Adirondack Skyfall
A Century of Airplane Crashes Inside the Blue Line
Author’s Note: The Blue Line is a common term used to reference land inside the Adirondack Park, as it is often designated by a blue border on maps. While many of the crashes detailed in this article occurred within the Adirondack Park, some took place just outside its boundary. They are included here as part of a larger regional history of aviation in northern New York.
Adirondack Skies
For pilots, the Adirondacks have always been a place of hard lessons. Beyond the postcard peaks and glassy lakes lies a region that challenges every assumption about flying. Here, turbulence builds in the shadow of ridgelines, storms roll in faster than forecasts predict, and dense forest swallows wreckage whole. Over the past century, dozens of planes have gone down in these mountains, their stories of risk, tragedy, and survival becoming part of the landscape itself. This is the story of skyfall in the North Country—a century-spanning record of ambition, risk, tragedy, and survival, shaped by the unforgiving terrain and volatile skies of America’s largest park.
Yet aviation in the Adirondacks was never just spectacle or adventure. It was infrastructure. For decades, aircraft were the fastest, often only, link between isolated camps, logging operations, and remote towns. Early bush pilots, mail carriers, and cargo flights stitched the region together in a way roads could not. Planes ferried supplies to distant camps, evacuated the injured, and delivered critical goods over terrain that could take days to cross on foot.
Aviation in the Adirondacks began not with paved runways, but with water landings. By the 1920s, floatplanes became essential for reaching remote logging camps, hunting lodges, and lakeside outposts inaccessible by road. In the 1930s, grass airstrips followed — often carved from farm fields or resort properties to serve private aircraft and local flights.
World War II accelerated aviation infrastructure across northern New York. The U.S. military expanded airfields that would later support civilian use, including Saranac Lake’s Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK), originally built as a military airfield. Plattsburgh’s airfield, later a Cold War Strategic Air Command base, evolved into today’s Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG).
Scheduled airline service arrived after the war, with regional carriers like Mohawk Airlines linking the Adirondacks to larger cities and fueling a growing tourism economy. These airports — along with floatplane operators — became vital lifelines for remote communities, delivering supplies, transporting the sick and injured, and connecting the wilderness to the wider world.
Flight brought new opportunity to the Adirondacks—and new risks. Aviation reshaped the region’s economy, enabling tourism, supporting emergency response, and providing vital links to remote communities. But the same wilderness that draws pilots is what tests them most. The Adirondacks are a place where weather is never a guarantee. Snow squalls can erase visibility in seconds. Valley fog settles without warning. Mountain winds shear and twist through passes, creating turbulence and sudden downdrafts that can overpower small aircraft. Updrafts rise along sunlit slopes; downdrafts drop with force on the shadowed side. It’s a region that doesn’t just demand skill from pilots—it demands respect.
Flying in the Adirondacks means confronting weather that can shift from clear skies to crisis in minutes. Pilots face rapidly forming snow squalls, dense valley fog, and summer thunderstorms that develop without warning. Wind shear near ridgelines and mountain passes can create violent turbulence, while sudden updrafts and downdrafts along steep terrain test even experienced crews.
Winter amplifies these dangers. Low temperatures combined with abundant moisture create prime conditions for in-flight icing—a hazard that can rob an aircraft of lift or control within minutes. Even in the warmer months, rapid temperature changes and pressure shifts near mountain slopes can leave pilots disoriented, surrounded by clouds, or navigating unpredictable winds.
Here, a bluebird morning can become a whiteout by afternoon. Downdrafts roar down granite faces with invisible force. And for search teams—even today, armed with helicopters and GPS—finding a downed plane in this rugged wilderness can take months, sometimes years.
I. The Early Age of Flight: 1912–1930s
1912: Robert J. Collier, publisher and aviation pioneer, brought a Wright Model B biplane to his summer estate at Raquette Lake (43.8186° N, 74.6465° W). During a flight over the lake, turbulence forced the aircraft into the water from a height of forty feet. Collier survived the incident, and the aircraft was recovered. This event marks one of the earliest recorded aviation mishaps in the Adirondacks.
1919: As part of the U.S. Army's ambitious "Around-the-Rim" flight to demonstrate the capabilities of military aviation, a Glenn Martin bomber was forced to land near Jay, New York (44.3742° N, 73.7393° W). Engine trouble struck during a thunderstorm, forcing the crew to make an emergency landing in a farmer's field, where the landing gear collapsed. The crew remained with the aircraft until spare parts could be delivered from the Glenn Martin Company.
II. Warplanes and the Wilderness: 1940s–1970s
1944: On September 20, 1944, a U.S. Army Air Forces Curtiss C-46A Commando, tail number 42-107397, departed from Syracuse Army Air Base on a nighttime navigation training mission over northern New York. The aircraft encountered severe weather conditions, leading to its disappearance. Despite extensive search efforts, the wreckage remained undiscovered until August 1945, when it was found on the northeast face of Blue Ridge Mountain near Speculator (43.5092° N, 74.3581° W). All three servicemen aboard perished in the crash. Due to the remote location and dense forest cover, the site was difficult to access. In 1997, a memorial plaque was installed at the site to honor the fallen crew members.
1962: On January 16, 1962, at approximately 2:00 a.m., a U.S. Air Force Boeing B-47E Stratojet from the 380th Bomb Wing at Plattsburgh Air Force Base embarked on a low-altitude training mission. The exercise involved practicing bombing runs over Watertown, New York. Severe weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and high winds, caused the aircraft to veer approximately 30 miles off course into the Adirondack High Peaks region. The bomber collided with Wright Peak (44.1520° N, 73.9860° W), just below its summit. The impact resulted in the immediate loss of all four crew members: 1st Lt. Rodney D. Bloomgren (Aircraft Commander), 1st Lt. Melvin Spencer (Co-Pilot), 1st Lt. Albert W. Kandetski (Navigator), and Airman 1st Class Kenneth R. Jensen (Observer). Search and rescue operations were significantly hindered by harsh winter conditions, including deep snowdrifts and strong winds. The remains of three crew members were recovered; however, Airman Jensen's remains were never found. In memory of the crew, the 380th Bomb Wing installed a commemorative plaque near the crash site. To this day, pieces of the aircraft's wreckage remain scattered near the summit, serving as a somber reminder of the tragic event.
1969: On November 19, 1969, Mohawk Airlines Flight 411, a Fairchild FH-227B, crashed into Pilot Knob Mountain near Fort Ann, New York (43.5067° N, 73.5550° W). The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Albany to Glens Falls when it encountered severe downdrafts during its approach to Warren County Airport. The downdrafts caused the plane to descend uncontrollably into the mountain, resulting in the deaths of all 14 passengers and crew aboard. The crash site is located on a steep, wooded slope, and recovery efforts were challenging due to the terrain and weather conditions.
III. Ghost Wrecks: 1980s–Present
1971: On January 27, 1971, a Rockwell Jet Commander 1121A, tail number N400CP, disappeared over Lake Champlain shortly after takeoff from Burlington, Vermont, en route to Providence, Rhode Island. The aircraft carried five individuals, including two pilots and three passengers associated with Cousins Properties. Despite extensive searches at the time, the main wreckage was never found, and the cause remained a mystery for over five decades. In June 2024, experts believe they have found the wreckage submerged in Lake Champlain off Juniper Island, bringing closure to a long-standing aviation mystery.
1972: On December 27, 1972, a Jet Commander corporate aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Adirondack Regional Airport near Paul Smiths (44.4320° N, 74.2510° W) in adverse weather. The crash killed all three aboard—two pilots and a stewardess—and the wreckage was strewn across a wooded area, complicating recovery efforts.
1992: On January 3, 1992, CommutAir Flight 4821, a Beechcraft 1900C operating as USAir Express, crashed into a wooded hillside near Gabriels, New York (44.3942° N, 74.2061° W), during an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to Runway 23 at Adirondack Regional Airport. The crash resulted in two fatalities and two injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board attributed the accident to pilot error, citing the captain's failure to stabilize the approach and descent below the minimum altitude, along with the first officer's inadequate monitoring of the approach.
Late 1980s-1990s: Hikers in the Seward Mountain range (44.1792° N, 74.1687° W) reported discovering scattered aircraft debris. No human remains were found, and the wreckage bore no identifiable markings, leaving its origin and circumstances a mystery. The remoteness of the site and the lack of formal records have contributed to its enduring status as one of the Adirondacks' aviation enigmas.
2015: On August 7, 2015, a Piper PA-46 Malibu crashed shortly after takeoff from Adirondack Regional Airport near Saranac Lake (44.3858° N, 74.2042° W). The aircraft, carrying two couples from the Rochester area, failed to gain altitude and crashed into nearby woods. All four occupants died on impact. The NTSB investigated mechanical failure and pilot performance as possible contributing factors.
2023: On October 1, 2023, a Cessna 177RG Cardinal crashed shortly after takeoff from Lake Placid Airport (44.2640° N, 73.9580° W). The aircraft experienced engine trouble and crashed while attempting to return to the runway. Both aboard were killed: Russ Francis, former NFL player and president of Lake Placid Airways, and Richard McSpadden, a noted aviation safety expert.
IV. A Century of Wreckage
These stories, decades apart, share a common thread. Sudden weather. Mountains rising out of fog. Downdrafts. Inexperience. Fatigue. Technical failure. The Adirondacks are not forgiving. Whether it’s a B-47 or a weekend pilot’s Piper, the rules are the same.
For all its natural beauty, the Adirondack region remains one of the most demanding environments for pilots in the eastern United States. Its history of aviation accidents is not only a chronicle of loss but also a record of perseverance, ingenuity, and respect for the land and sky. The wilderness here preserves its secrets well, guarding them beneath layers of ice, forest, and stone.
These wrecks—forgotten on remote slopes and buried beneath generations of forest growth—aren’t just stories of loss. They are monuments to a century of flight in a region that has never stopped testing its pilots. And they remain, for those who find them, a sobering reminder: here, even the sky can betray you.
Note: Wreck sites should be approached with care and reverence. Many are memorials. Leave no trace, take only memory.
Adirondack Plane Crashes by Region
Santanoni Range / Tahawus / Newcomb Area
1984 — In June 1984, a small private plane crashed near the summit of Santanoni Peak, killing both occupants.
1984 — A Cessna U206A crashed on Boreas Mountain in 1984. Despite extensive search efforts, the wreckage and pilot's remains were not found until 1990.
2025 — On February 4, 2025, a Piper Cherokee 140 crashed near Tahawus at an elevation of 4,600 feet. Both men aboard, Daniel R. Wills and Ronald E. Rouselle, were killed.
Lake Placid / Saranac Lake Region
1939 — In 1939, a seaplane crashed into Pollywog Pond near the Saranac Inn. One woman was injured while the pilot and another passenger escaped unharmed.1945 — On October 15, 1945, a Taylorcraft plane crashed on Labounty Hill near Saranac Lake, killing both occupants.
1950 — In 1950, a Fairchild trainer crashed off River Road in Lake Placid. Both occupants survived the crash.
1958 — On Halloween night in 1958, Julian Reiss and his daughter crashed near Moose Pond in a small plane. They survived the crash. Notably, the plane's engine was later stolen from the crash site.
1959 — In September 1959, a New York State Conservation Department plane crashed into the side of MacNaughton Mountain during a fish-stocking mission. The pilot was killed.
1980 — In 1980, a Beechcraft Baron crashed into Blue Hill near Lake Clear, killing all five aboard.
1992 — On January 3, 1992, CommutAir Flight 4821, a Beechcraft 1900C commuter plane, crashed into a wooded hillside near Gabriels while approaching Adirondack Regional Airport. Two of the four people aboard were killed; two survived.
2000 — In 2000, a small plane crashed near Lake Placid. Both men aboard survived.
2004 — In July 2004, a Piper PA-46 aircraft crashed near Ticonderoga, New York. Both occupants aboard were killed.
2007 — On April 18, 2007, a twin-engine Beechcraft aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Clear, killing the pilot.
Lake George Region / Warren County
1926 — In 1926, a plane attempting to land on the frozen surface of Lake George broke through thin ice. All occupants were rescued.
1969 — On November 19, 1969, Mohawk Airlines Flight 411, a Fairchild FH-227B, crashed into Pilot Knob Mountain near Lake George while attempting to land in poor weather. All 14 passengers and crew were killed, making it the deadliest aviation accident in the Adirondacks.
Wilmington / Whiteface / North Country Peaks
1928 — In 1928, a Waco biplane crashed into a church steeple in Wilmington, New York. The pilot was seriously injured but survived.
1943 — In 1943, a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft crashed on Wilmington Peak. Both crew members aboard were killed.
High Peaks / Iroquois Mountain / Nye Mountain
1962 — On January 16, 1962, a U.S. Air Force B-47 bomber on a training mission crashed into the summit of Wright Peak in the High Peaks. All four crew members aboard were killed. Parts of the wreckage remain near the summit today.
1969 — On August 10, 1969, a Piper Cherokee 140 piloted by F. Peter Simmons crashed into Iroquois Mountain. Simmons survived with injuries and was rescued after spending the night in the wilderness.
1978 — In 1978, a Piper Navajo aircraft crashed near Nye Mountain. All three people aboard were killed. A dog survived the crash and made its way out of the wilderness.
Southern Adirondacks / Wells / Speculator / Johnsburg
1942 — In 1942, two young men stole an Aeronca aircraft from the Westport Airport. After flying around the Port Henry area, they ran out of fuel and crashed between Moriah and Port Henry. One of the men survived; the other was killed.
1944 — On September 20, 1944, a U.S. Army C-46 Curtiss Commando transport plane crashed near Lewes Lake on Blue Ridge Mountain. The wreckage remains at the site today.
1945 — In 1945, a plane traveling from Lake Placid to Rome, New York, crashed on Bullhead Mountain in Johnsburg. All three people aboard were killed.
1986 — In 1986, two A-10 Thunderbolt military jets collided and crashed near Wells during a training exercise. One pilot was killed.
Ticonderoga / Baldwin / Lake Champlain Vicinity
1931 — In August 1931, a small plane attempting to land on a rough landing field along the Baldwin-Ticonderoga Road clipped a tree while descending. The crash injured all three people aboard but none fatally.
Meacham Lake / Malone Area
1972 — On October 9, 1972, a Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft flying from Schroon Lake to Malone disappeared near Meacham Lake. Despite extensive search efforts, the wreckage was not found until the following spring of 1973 by hunters. Both the pilot and the passenger were killed.
Other Notable Locations
1912 — The first recorded plane crash in the Adirondacks occurred in 1912 when a Curtiss-Wright biplane crashed into Raquette Lake. The pilot survived without injury.
1934 — In December 1934, an American Airlines Curtiss Condor biplane crashed into Wilder Mountain. All four people aboard survived the crash.
1939 — In 1939, a small plane failed to gain altitude while taking off from Lake Clear Airport. The pilot survived.
1974 — In 1974, an F-106 Delta Dart fighter jet crashed near Hopkinton, New York. The pilot ejected but died after landing approximately 20 miles from the crash site due to exposure.
Works Cited & Additional Resources
Adirondack Explorer. Dean of Plane Wrecks in the Adirondacks. Accessed 2024. https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/dean-of-plane-wrecks
Adirondack Daily Enterprise. The Plane Crash on Wright Peak. Howard Riley. November 2024.
https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.comNorth Country Public Radio. Fifty Years Later, Pilot's Family Visits Wright Peak Crash Remains. June 2012.
https://www.northcountrypublicradio.orgNTSB Aviation Accident Reports. CommutAir Flight 4821 - 1992 Crash Report.
https://www.ntsb.govBAAA - Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. Adirondacks and New York State Aviation Incidents Database.
https://www.baaa-acro.comSpectrum News. North Country Plane Crash Kills Four People - Saranac Lake. August 2015.
https://spectrumlocalnews.comAssociated Press. Russ Francis, Ex-NFL Player, Killed in Lake Placid Plane Crash. October 2023.
https://apnews.comWikipedia Contributors. List of Accidents and Incidents Involving the Curtiss C-46 Commando. Accessed 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_the_Curtiss_C-46_Commando
Burlington Free Press. Adirondacks Plane Crash Sites Documented. April 2016.
https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com
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