Plane Crash-TWA Flight 260 (Crashed on February 19th 1955)

Plane Crash Site-TWA Flight 260 "February 19th 1955"

TWA Canyon
Domingo Baca Canyon, Sandia Mountain Wilderness

During the night of February 19, 1955, searchlights swept Sandia Mountain as rescuers searched for the crash site of TWA Flight 260. The twin-engine plane slammed into the Dragon's Tooth, a prominent rock spire on the northeast edge of Domingo Baca/TWA Canyon. There were no survivors and 16 lives were lost. The wreckage smoldered for days. The official report stated the probable cause of the crash to be "deviation from the prescribed path for reasons unknown."

Domingo Baca is a beautiful canyon that offers a strenuous hike in the Sandia Mountain Wilderness. Hikers travel to 8,500-feet above sea level with a 2,160 foot gain in altitude. The trail begins at the Elena Gallegos Picnic Area off Tramway Boulevard and passes the site of the airplane accident. Riders on the Sandia Tram pass directly over the site of the crash.

As you approach the site, you'll see nuts, bolts and screws. Next, pieces of a metal wing with a faded blue number still visible. Five of the passengers were New Mexicans and family members still make pilgrimages to the site. It should be treated as a sacred place.

The round-trip hike to the crash site is eight miles. Poison ivy is plentiful in summer. Continuing on, the trail connects with the La Luz Trail, which continues to the top of Sandia Mountain. For more information, contact the Sandia Mountain Wilderness District @ (505) 281-3304.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• TWA
• Flight
• 260
• Plane
• Crash
• Site
• February 19th 1955
• 16
• Passengers
• and
• Crew
• Dead
• Extreme
• Hiking
• Backpacking
• Wilderness
• Geocaching
• Airline
• Wreckage
• Landing
• Gear
• Domingo
• Baca
• Canyon
• Rugged
• Sandia
• Mountains
• Twin
• Engine
• Dragon's
• Tooth
• Arial
• Tramway
• Panasonic
• Lumix
• DMC/TZ5
• Camera

[lockieme33]

Just happened to catch your video and it brought back a distant memory. I may have been the last person to see TWA 260 before it crashed. I was stationed at Sandia Base at the time. When 260 took off it passed directly over me tuurning north. I remarked at the time that I didn't know where he was going but wished I was going with him. Ironically, when I read the memorial of the names of crew and passengers, one of the passengers and I have the same last name. I have just ordered the book.

[CSueNM]

I just read the newest book out on this crash. Geez, seeing how that tore up the plane, the author's awful descriptions of what happened to the people on board makes more sense. How tragic for those people and their families. Thank you for this video. The book's photos were hard to make out, but your video is very clear. Sad.

[tralkki]

good music choice. i cant wait to make this hike and pay my respects.

[xplastiqq]

how long does this hike to the wreckage take to get there?

[SketchUp707]

@donnyab Osama bin Laden does.

[stickdog100]

Thats why I havent flown in a plane since 1st grade. Someday I will get around to going up there and seeing the site.

[skinnywhop87]

This site is crazy, I've made the hike before. The way the canyon is positioned you can't see the city at all, and its still high enough in elevation to be in the pine forests, so it's so dead quit there. Plus you think of what event happened in that location it's kinda strange

[GdtNazgreL]

they were 26 actually

[SketchUp707]

This makes me want t cry. 19 people lost their lives. They didnt deserve to die.

[wrdavey]

Jeff,

Although I have hiked 3 times with the NMMC to the crash site, your video brought it back to life for me. Now I am enthused about finding all 8 of your wilderness geocaches in the Sandias ! I really need to train hard for an upcoming hike in the French Alps in early September ! Bill aka albuquerquebill