[Newman]

hey all. last year my brother and i were hiking the PCT near Echo lake in the Greenwater area. we came across a meadow, signed "Airplane Meadow". when you walk through the meadow, there are the remnants of an old airplane. we knew what kind of plane, but we wanted to know when and why the plane crashed. we stopped by the ranger station in enumclaw to find out, but none of the rangers had any idea about what we were talking about. anyone have any idea? i have attached a photo of the wreckage. been curious for some time now, and finally got around to posting the question!! thanks!

[hikerjo]

I am going to send you an email and we will see what we can find out. You have come to the right place. It looks like an old Vultee BT-13 crash site. What type of plane did you think it was? I have lots of resources and will be able to help you. I research, locate, and document airplane crash sites across Washington. Thanks for your post.

[Newman]

thanks Craig. i just spoke with my brother and it turns out all we could figure out is that it is an old radial engine. (hope that is correct). i have attached a couple more photos. there wasn't anything left other than what the pictures show. no body of the plane or anything. just kind of weird. so yeah, anything you can find out, please let me know!

[hikerjo]

Sorry for the delay. I have been out and about the last couple of days. I did some reaserach and I found a PT-26 that crashed in the area in March 1955. Its serial number was 1036N, thus it crashed as a civilan plane. It was marked, plate #52.

[Newman]

i believe the meadow is located about 3 miles southeast of echo lake in the norse peak wilderness. if i remember correctly, it was shortly after the junction between the PCT, and trail 1187, which heads northwest from the PCT towards echo lake. the junction is also south of Arch Rock, and very near the Pierce, Yakima county border. hope this helps. thanks again!

[hyak.net]

Seems rather strange that if an airplane crashed at the site, only the engine would remain? Do you think maybe the engine was used for some other reason and left behind? It just seems like there would have been some sort of body parts or frame or SOMETHING???

[hikerjo]

My interest is the preservation of crash sites. I have located more then a dozen airplane crash sites in Washington and it is not uncommon for only certain parts to remain. I have been to some wrecks where the entire plane is almost perfectly intact and others where nothing bigger then a small hand exists. Because this was a civilian plane I don’t think I will be able to find anymore information. If you are still interested in historical information, check back issues (on microfilm) of a local newspaper. The frame is visible in the first picture. The fuselage is the weakest part of the plane, thus they don’t do well in crashes. Because this plane is so close to a major trail, I am sure much looting as happened over the years. If any of you ever come across an airplane crash site, please remember to only take pictures.

[Beef]

[Michaelb]

I have info on the airplane. Email me ngreid83aol.com My father was a friend of the ranger that found the pilot. I have more info if you would like. Thanks.

[wolffie]

Thanks, interesting. I was just near there, but foolishly did not take time to look. The rest of the aircraft may have burned, at the crash or subsequently. There's something intriguingingly beautiful about precision human technology slowly dissolving back into nature. Wrecks are oddly cool.

[Bernardo]

I was by here last week and the wreckage looks about the same. Any details on what happened?

[Dick B]

[oldwild]

Hi. I wish the older members of my family were still alive, they would have information on that. There is a Mr. Mills that has a kinda local museum at the little brown church on the corner of French road/Sills road and Maxwelton road. He may have some information on that. Somewhere we have a picture of a biplane that landed in the general area of Maxwelton/Bayview. I don't know where it went. In a similar note, does anyone have information on the Mt. Catherine aircraft beacon?

[Joseph]

[Pyrites]

It took lots of crashes to kill just under 15,000 Air Corps crew just in the Continental U.S. I don’t think that includes Navy or Marine aviation.