It was the eve of my 17th birthday. Cool place. Since the site was very fresh, you could clearly trace the planes approach path by the way the tree trunks were snapped. In fact, a few of the pine trees may be two centuries old. I heard that sucker explode and I lived and still do live in Brooklyn, NY 47 miles away. Crew: Major Robert V. Reilly, Memphis, Texas, Pilot We saw very few spring flowers on this Spring Forward hike, but that first azalea was worth the trip all on its own! Gary Scarano and Bill Rowland will be on 1300 AM radio show at 11:15 to speak about the 1974 Baltimore Colt Plane crash in Harriman State Park. The forest is slowly reclaiming the wreckage but still visible is a large portion of one wing, a large radial engine, and some unidentified pieces wrapped around trees. Many small pieces still exist, though you may have to move around some leaves to find them. Because of the parks natural springs there is evidence that the area was a hunting ground for bears, elk and deer. Gary: Im so sorry. In less than a tenth of a mile we passed a side trail to backcountry campsite #3, which looks like a very nice spot to spend a night. Next Up: History of Alabama State Parks and why they matter. My father was James Fredrick Cox, Jr. and he was one of the pilots on Northwest Airlines flight 6231 . Sounds like a pretty cool guy! Our first trail was the Blue Trail, which on park maps is also labeled the South Rim Trail. If you visit the falls though, youll be glad you made the effort to traverse downhill and back up again. The last 1.16 miles of the White Trail are an easy, level walk though sections of the trail on this day were very flooded. (Not currently open: Complete a Job Notification Request for Job Class 21242-000 to be notified when this job classification is accepting applications) Parks Advertising and Marketing Manager. In hindsight, though, I wish wed taken at least on of them. He spent at least 35 years as a park volunteer in Oak Mountain State Park, leading hikes once a month for at least 23 of those years. I would like to be on your email list and stay informed as to the latest happenings in your wonderful memorial project for my brother. This road joins the Old Turnpike. The wreck of a B-29 Superfortress now stands as a memorial left in the moors. In the past year, they have discovered 3 additional stills. The last night of November, 65 years ago Monday, was wet with rain and fog. 60th anniversary of tragic Blackwood plane crash nears. They built the culverts, shelters and cabins that still stand today. I biked in on the Turnpike, then walked to coordinates N 41 12.903 W 074 05.335. Longtime conservationist. They are in the eagle world considered a married couple.. It is amazing how close the site is to the long path. I went there last year, but did not have the correct coordinate, but I found a alien spaceship instead (not really, but the true is boring, just looked around and could not see anything) I hope to go back with the correct coordinate at some point. The Boeing 737-800 NG, the model that crashed in China on Monday, is a workhorse of the skies. A KC-135 out of Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii with nine passengers and four crew disappeared from radio and radar contact around 6:00 p.m. while on final landing approach over Mt. The day-use activities at Oak Mountain State Park set it apart. But on that spot, theyve posted a memorial, and there is still debris from the crash. Tables on list pages now allow for sorting and searching; I hope this makes the site much more usable. We're on an 8 year, 50 state road trip and beyond. I couldnt find much information about Northwest Airlines Flight 6231 online, until I found theAAR75-13. Last Spring,2016 my husband and I were doing a hike in that area which I have done numerous times, always feeling like something was amiss in that area, ever since I read about that crash in my Harriman book. You probably know that another 727, TWA crashed near Washington DC on the very same day. Plane crash map Locate crash sites, wreckage and more. Heres what I found out. Even if they werent, my thinking was that we might be able to take in some nice views off the ridges of Oak Mountain, so despite the snow (and extra early waking up time) we headed off to the south for our hike, only a little later than I had hoped. I run along the long path often and will try to find it. Then, ALL were recalled and sent home due to the dark and dangerous conditions. After refueling, the pilots of the Gold flight decided to take the "scenic" route up Clear . Suzy: A native of Birmingham, Lauren grew up in Center Point and went to Samford University. It is still painful to talk about, but I would love to speak with anyone in the family who would like to. I was asked to photograph the wreckage. Your email address will not be published. The route Id picked out was a loop that started and ended at the North Trailhead. We have both been in touch with some of the families. 1 min read. See 42 traveler reviews, 47 photos and 3 blog posts Alabama State Parks Pelham Oak Mountain State Park Oak Mountain State Park Alabama State Park. etc. Even though it is not a national park, Oak Mountain is a destination spot for trail runners, hikers, mountain bikers, swimmers, golfers. By Billy Singleton | Chilton County Airport Authority Went out to try and find this sight today but couldnt. A Chinese passenger plane with 132 people on board has crashed in a forested hillside in southern China. Today I updated the appearance of several pages, with a goal of getting you to the information that you are looking for faster. What is Lean-To Camping? I also thought: Baltimore Ravens? On Feb. 1, 1957, a Navy Thunderjet plane piloted by Capt. I grew up about 3 miles from the crash site and walked to it the next morning Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Oak mountain state park mtb crash - YouTube Michele crashing at oak mountain Michele crashing at oak mountain AboutPressCopyrightContact usCreatorsAdvertiseDevelopersTermsPrivacyPolicy &. Clearly the plane must have been on a steep plunge. I was on the site the next morning theres power lines near the site and the pole near the site was #747 if you go to look find the pole it all a round, We cant find itwe found an area that was roped off,by an orange ropewe looked for 2 hours,we are good hikershow far is it from St Johns Church. Swimming Holes of Harriman State Park: Unofficial! Please email be back. If youve ever heard dynamite blasting in a neighboring town, that would be close to what I heard. My mother had been laying in bed listening to the radio news when they reported the crash of a New York to Buffalo flight. My mother was on that same airplane as it arrived in NYC, just prior to that crash. Around Thanksgiving I hiked up the Fishkill Ridge on Beacon Mountain, and on the way down, a little ways off the trail, I saw a small pile of twisted metal and a framed newspaper article nailed to a tree. I am surprise how small the debris you saw was. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. This memorial site offers scenic views and a peaceful place for reflection. This land provided most of the illegal alcohol for Birmingham. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 16 min to complete. Remains of Northwest Airlines flight 6231, scattered in the forest in Harriman State Park, south of Lake Welch, between the Old Turnpike and the Long Path. I was probably 10-11 years old at the time. From the North Trailhead, you have to drive ~3.5 miles south on Oak Mountain Park Road, then turn left on Terrace Drive. I will try to take pictures and document as much as I can. July 11, 2018. Your email address will not be published. After all these years I can still vividly remember the aqua green and cream livery on the fuselage parts. On December 24, 1944, a Cessna UC-78B Bobcat took off from Yuma Army Air Field to fly to Deming, New Mexico, with a pilot and two passengers. Mostly its been warmer than usual, and the poor plants are so confused that some are blooming months ahead of schedule. It would be interesting to compare to today. I see that there are family members who have posted here. We are in the process of contacting family members of the crew that passed away for approved wording on the memorial. Be prepared with good footwear as the trail gets steep. 2023 Atlas Obscura. We definitely didnt have a financial backer like Rockefeller. Six weeks after the crash the Army demolished the plane using dynamite leaving only an engine, some gears, wing tips, and lots and lots of bits and pieces to be found. Whatever the place is called, it did have very nice views out to the southeast. It was almost the only thing in sight that was in bloom the only exception being a small white-flowered shrub just up the hill that I think might have been a serviceberry in bloom. From the parking lot, the trail head is easily visible and right across the road. Even to this day, we find remnants of stills all through the parkbarrel rings near water everywhere.. I would then ask the PIP staff for assistance getting the site ready, etc. All true thanks for the comment. It was Northwest Airlines flight 6231 from New York, chartered by the Baltimore Colts. Alabama is filled with many hiking trails, several of which will lead you to some pretty unique things. Your email address will not be published. Id read the FAA report of the crash, and the co ordinates were given in error. Its scattered under the ferns, lots of it. I was told it was also called Camp Wakanda many more years ago. Each would have added another .6 miles to our hike and we were already going to get back much later than Id hoped due to a late start. There is now a monument from palisade park commission. Why? I had picked a hike in Oak Mountain State Park, about two hours south of our house, thinking that maybe the flowers that were almost in bloom up here would be further along down there. Overall, she estimates 30-50 places where stills once existed. Parks Naturalist. I was there today. My aunt has told me about the memorial, but I dont have any information about it. I visited the site in mid- February. We knew from the maps that this would be our last chance for a view to the southeast, so we did finally take one of the faint side trails leading to a rocky outcrop. If you are looking for assistance in raising the funds for an appropriate monument, please contact me. Im sure her actions were not ill-intentioned, but they are disappointing. SEALE, Ala. (WSFA) - Russell County investigators along with the Federal Aviation Administration spent Tuesday sifting through the wreckage of a small plane that crashed Monday afternoon killing. With the oldest continuously operating BMX Track in the nation, over 50 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails set in a picturesque 9,940-acre park, there is something for all outdoor enthusiasts to appreciate and enjoy. (Continuous Register - Applications currently being accepted) J ob Announcement 70637. This park has always meant a lot to me. When we saw Gordons desire to do the same and want to join forces with him. Thanks for the information here its great. We were disappointed on that account. can you send me the coordinates for the crash site? 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