Our hike to a Plane Crash-TWA Flight 260 (Crashed on February 19th 1955)

Our hike up to the TWA Plane Crash Site "Flight 260"

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.

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[plasticspastic201]

@oldcodyjr what a dumbass. hiking on your own in the snow. sort it out fool

[NdaWoodz]

wow how much of the wreckage did u steal for your own sick morbid pothetic life,in other words GET A LIFE!!!!,fuckin losers,did it get u off!!!!!!!!!

[wcbombers21]

wow from the look of the impacted engine parts they must have slammed into that mountain at a high rate of speed...death was instant...sucks RIP....u guys got some great footage!

[oldcodyjr]

Thanks for the photos. I've made about 3 attempts to hike to the site, but the time I got the closest, a late spring snowstorm approached and, as I always hike solo (I'm a woman) I finally decided to head down before I got stuck up on the mountain. There are a couple places on the trail that are confusing from the directions I found on-line, but I know I found the right trail and was getting close to the wreck when the snow got too deep and prudence dictated that I go back down quickly.

[murcuryvapor]

i think Stevie Ray Vaughn would've been more apropos.

[pete5668]

i got the prop breakin, plane crashin, fireballin' blues

[projectjster]

Do you know where it crashed? Id like to find that sometime

[projectjster]

Awesome video, would like to try this hike sometime sometime

[FunMike56]

Lived in Albuquerque in the mid-80's. Hiked up to the site through the canyon starting at the bottom. Was amazed at how much of the plane was still up there.

There are many other crash sights on the mountain too. Stumbled across an Army Air Corp trainer crash from WWII era. It was done below South Peak.

[sandiaman1]

Been wanting to go to this site and cache for a long time now. As a lame excuse I thought I would wait until any snow has cleared. Here is the deal. I always thought from looking at the TOPO it might be easier to approach it from above. I emailed Ganelo and he said....yes...you can do it from straight above without too much problem. May try it that way. Just got a new Canon SD780 which can take 720P video so maybe I can upload some HD. Thanks for the great job putting this video together Jeff.