The Rocky Mountains have long been held as a noteworthy adversary for explorers of all types and sizes but they are also a challenge for aircraft. This was especially true during the first century of manned flight. In fact, there were an estimated 28 aircraft lost to Colorado mountainsides from the 1940’s through today. The military policy to leave downed aircraft means that most of these wreckages are still available for exploration (if you can reach them!).
Here are a few of Northern Colorado’s unfortunate travel mishaps:
- In 1943, a B-17 smashed into Stormy Peak (West of Fort Collins) during World War II and is accessible from Pingree Park or Browns Lake Trailheads in the upper Cache la Poudre River.
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In 1951, a United Airlines aircraft struck Crystal Mountain (also West of Fort Collins), killing all 55 people aboard. It was the worst aviation disaster at the time.
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In 1997, a A-10 Thunderbolt (aka “Warthog Bomber”) fighter-bomber was lost over Vail and Aspen. It was eventually located more than 10 days later on a sheer cliff below Gold Dust Peak. Despite recovering a number of the armaments, there still area signs throughout the Holy Cross Wilderness warning hikers and climbers of the potential for coming across a 500-pound bomb!
There are a number of Colorado explorers who have made a hobby out of mapping and exploring these crash sites. To learn more, or explore some yourself, please visit ‘Colorado WreckChasing’.
*Details are courtesy (in part) from
by John Hafnor
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Copyright © Dee Baldwin 2010 *Fort Collins City Guide – Mountain Crash Sites*
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