Over 255 military aircraft crash sites located in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Southern California from WWII through the Cold War.

 

F-86A #48-137, crashed on March 5, 1953, 8 miles South of Temple Bar.

Summary: The pilot, Lt. John Hazelton, departed Nellis AFB in Las Vegas to practice combat maneuvers high above Lake Mead in Northern Arizona. At 20,000 feet, he entered a very tight left turn as an evasive action from an attacking aircraft. The plane turned too sharp, causing excessive G's, and snapped off the horizontal stabilizers. As the plane spun to the desert floor, another pilot saw the canopy jettison at 3,000 feet, but unfortunately, there was not enough time for the seat to eject and Lt. Hazelton was killed. The Sabre impacted the ground 8 miles south of Temple Bar, Arizona.

 

Looking over the crash site. All of the large parts have been removed, leaving only a burn area. A general view of the burn area. Parts are confined to a very small area, only about 75 feet by 75 feet.

 

Remains of the armored windscreen and shattered canopy plexiglas. Lt. Hazelton's dogtag, Catholic pendant and key, found at the site.

 

The remnants of the crash crew's camp. There was a fire pit, glass jars, food cans and an old smashed wood crate. An old can of Maine Sardines left from the crash crew.

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