Grumman OV-1C crash along San Pedro river on July 7, 1970

Copyright © Chris McDoniel

Grumman OV-1C crashes along San Pedro river at approximately 10:30pm on 7 July 1970 while returning to Fort Huachuca following an infra-red training flight. According to the mishap report, "simultaneous loss of power of both engines due to fuel starvation" was a contributing factor to the crash. The mishap report also noted that excessive transmission from Libby Field Control Tower may have contributed to ejection delay.

Prior to the 7 July 1970, the Mohawk had not been flown since 23 June 1970 due to maintenance.

Two men died in the crash:
Captain Wayne Leroy Clement
Private (Infra-red student operator) Martin J. Geisen

Landing gear and possible firewall. Photo from my personal collection.

Landing gear from a recent trip to revisit the crash site.

Might have been a battery box. I don’t think it was an ammo can.

Door Lock mechanism? It was hard to read.

Original crash site photo from my personal collection.

Portion of the wing. (P-38.com was my old website.)

Scattered debris at B-18 crash site.

Agassiz Peak