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| Navy F8U-1 Crusader |
Navy Chance-Vought F8U-1 Crusader, Date and Bureau Number Unknown. Santa Rosa Mountains, California
Summary: Little is known of this wreck to date including the date of crash, bureau number, and the pilot's fate. This crash was found in the Santa Rosa Mountains while camping and summiting peaks. It is a very difficult hike that includes plenty of elevation variation over 22 miles of on-trail hiking, and another 2-3 miles off-trail over a very steep and boulder-covered mountainside. |
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| Taken from my Mavic Air. The trail comes from the right, then drops into the canyon below, and eventually makes its way beyond the distant ridgelines. | The Mavic Air photographing a creek with running water 900 feet below. | On the ridgeline of the mountains in the first photo looking back. | My pack and tent at the camp site. Jon and I would use day packs for the ascent the next morning. |
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| At the main impact point, a piece of metal is wedged into the tree. | This component had the "CV" prefix on a part number, confirming this unknown plane was manufactured by Chance-Vought. | Debris scattered about. | Close-up. |
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| Some of the Crusaders MK 12 20mm cannons, bent and split open. | The force to cause this damage is immense. | Navy cannon info. |
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| This modification plate confirmed this was a "1" series of F8U. | Scattered debris. | Debris scattered aboout. | Debris. |
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| "Engine Removal Access" | This drone photo show how unforgiving this terrain is. You can barely make out Jon climbing over the large boulders in the lower-center. | "No Step, No Push" | Smashed remainsof the Pratt & Whitney J57 engine. . |
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| A set of deer antlers found on the mountainside. |