Aero Union One Eight B-17G N9324Z crash near Benson on July 12, 1971
Copyright © Chris McDoniel
Suffering multiple engine failures after a slurry drop on a forest fire in the Whetstone Mountains, Melvin Hoaglund, pilot, and Richard Hollis, co-pilot, successfully crash landed their stricken Boeing B-17 bomber near a dry wash in southern Arizona.
If I understand the NTSB abbreviations on their mishap summary, the baffle in the air intake scoop separated from the number four engine which restricted air flow to carburetors 1, 2, and 3, which ultimately led to an immediate loss of power.
The crew did a great job getting the Flying Fortress on the ground. Both occupants survived the crash. This aircraft was one of several to survive post war smelters and fly as slurry bombers for Aero Union.
Currently, remains of One Eight exist in a couple different museums.
Then and Now. “One eight” down in the desert.
Possibly part of the horizontal stabilizer.
This was one of the bigger pieces at the crash site.
One of the inspection stamps on the Boeing B-17G.
Another piece of wreckage with a little slurry still on it.
After decades in the desert, this long piece of aluminum still retains some of the red slurry.
Another one of the Boeing inspection stamps starting to fade.
Aero Union's 'One Eight."
Scattered remains of the slurry bomber.