The National Park has confirmed two fatalities in the plane crash of fixed-wing single aircraft within Sequoia National Park. Radar tapes showed the last location to be near the Upper Horse Creek drainage in Mineral King located in a remote wilderness location that is not accessible by vehicle.
The Visalia Times Delta reported that the men, “both experienced pilots, were flying in a 1970 Beechcraft V35B. That was the first year that model was made. Beechcraft continued making the V35B until 1982. The plane had just been cleared during an annual service.”
The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) provided Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks dispatch with a report of an overdue fixed-wing single-engine aircraft. It was said to depart from Visalia Airport in California on Friday, September 4 at 11 a.m. and due at Needles Airport in San Bernardino County at 1 p.m.
The crash was located by the National Park’s helitack team on September 5, and located the crash site after 8am. Park personal are also handling a small fire approximately one-half acre in size associated with the crash.
The investigation is ongoing and is under the jurisdiction of National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Information provided by a press release from the SEKI NPS.
