The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by: After departure at 1417 cst, radar track showed the aircraft climbing to and maintaining 7,600 feet until about 1733 est and 28-30 miles north of the Knoxville VOR. Two people died in this crash. If the above hike to an abandoned airplane crash in North Carolina whets your appetite for adventure, read on! Marcus and I were wandering around the fuselage like detectives at a crime scene. The Blue Ridge Parkway reaches some of its highest points in the Waterrock Knob area, including Richland Balsam (highest point on the Parkway) and Waterrock Knob Visitor Center (highest visitor center on the Parkway). It can be muddy and slippery if its been raining, so just take your time as you walk over the tree roots. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. Both passengers aboard died as a result. Keep these hiking tips in mind: It is important to remember that the two men on the airplane died in the crash. If youre looking for a hike with a view, wed recommend catching the sunset on Green Knob, or perhaps hiking Looking Glass Rock for the mountaintop views. I think about the moments before, during and after the crash. When I reached the top of Waterrock Knob, under rather malicious-looking skies, a 60-year old man with . Follow the yellow markers painted on the trees. Read more about my story here. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link. Copyright 2017 CleanBlog | Theme by AirThemes. They also found the frozen bodies of the two victims who had sadly died on impact. Which state parks should I visit in North Carolina? The drive to Waterrock Knob along the Blue Ridge Parkway is arguably one of the most beautiful and scenic drives in the country. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. I was getting Uncharted 1 vibes. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Maybe the Ranger was trying to discourage us from going on the unofficial hike. She brushed her hand across the soft whitish golden fur on Odins head without hesitation. We said goodbye to Patrick and Tammy; telling them about a few places to visit during their stay. Its getting harder and harder to find safe abandoned places in North Carolina, so wed highly recommend you take advantage of the opportunity while you still can. Nature brings out the best in people. Plane Crash Site from 1983, Waterrock Knob, North Carolina, USA. The Ranger continued on up Waterrock and out of site. Odins ears perked up. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Unfortunately, since the internet has connected everyone. I have an awesome cinematic hiking vlog here for you guys! Members of the Civil Air Patrol found the wreckage near the summit of Waterrock Knob Peak a week later. OP watch out for dinos!! And some of the trees along the trail have been marked with yellow spray paint to make it easier. GPS coordinates: 3527'37.2N 8308'27.0W. Subscribe to our newsletter and receive a FREE PRINTABLE TRAVEL PLANNER! He had friends in the area and had flown into the Jackson County Airport before. as well as check out the abandoned plane crash of a Cessna 414A that happened back in 1983. The latest music videos, short movies, tv shows, funny and extreme videos. One of Marcus catch phrases is theres always time for a hike! So being Labor Day weekend, we could not put off this adventure. The adventure started at Waterrock Knob. After hiking up to Waterrock Knob, I overheard a Ranger standing in front of a narrow path to the left. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. In addition to that, hed been drinking a little the FAA reported a blood-alcohol level of .04 percent. Id still like to find some old newspaper articles on the crash if they existand know more about the people who died here. See All . Its not something you would climb in or on, but it is interesting to see and take some photos of. https://www.baaa-acro.com/sites/default/files/2020-03/N6623C.pdf, http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=6623C, http://videotarts.com/video/6GrSrJC0NAk/abandoned-airplane-in-the-middle-of-the-woods.html, https://www.lilblueboo.com/2018/08/hiking-to-a-plane-crash-in-the-smoky-mountains-via-waterrock-and-browning-knobs.html, Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency], Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative], Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]. It crashed a little before 6pm at about 6,000 feet. Plane Crash at Waterrock Knob Andrew Plyler (Atlas Obscura User) This nearly 40-year-old plane wreckage is located near the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. I think the challenges with this hike are because you need to be more alert for markings to stick to the trail and because the terrain can be a little slippery, requiring a little more skill than walking a paved trail. The elevation change is said to be equivalent to about 68 flights of stairs. ???? The plane could have made it over the mountain if it had just been about 150 feet higher. We were there last fall and someone had spray painted the plane. The white aluminum caught my attention; nestled in a downward section of the mountain in a quiet place among trees and other plant life. 10 Tips for Safe Travel: How to Travel the World Safely! Its a very good idea to tell multiple people where you are heading, and its probably not a trail you should tackle alone. The path was straight down the side of the mountain; winding around moss covered trees and through what seemed like mile high pines overhead. He looked tired but exuded deep satisfaction. Shuckstack Fire Tower is an old fire observatory tower in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Check this box to receive emails from Journey to the Destination. As interesting as the crash site can be, it was important for us to remember the two pilots who lost their lives in this very spot and treat the area with respect. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). There are no engines at the site as they were salvaged soon after the crash. Drew had said it was a short hike from Waterrock to Browning Knob, and that the plane crash was just off to the left. Download Millions Of Videos Online. Heres What You Should Know, 29 Best Restaurants in Pigeon Forge, Ranked [2023], Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Fees, What You Should Know, Smoky Mountains in March: Events in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge [2023], A Simple Guide to Smoky Mountain Parking Passes, Park it Forward. This blog post covers the hike to the Cessna 414 plane crash deep in the mountains of North Carolina and where to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Theres a lot of ups and downs so youll probably get a little puffed on the incline, but if you have a reasonable level of fitness, you should be fine. Maybe the Labor Day weekend was causing us to think about work instead of focusing on a true adventure. Located just 18 miles from the southern end of the Parkway and farther away from larger cities, it has a more remote and quiet feel to it. It can be easy to get hurt or lost while hiking to the airplane crash site. There are very few small plane crash sites in North Carolina, and you can find one of them hidden deep in the woods on a trail that runs along a ridge. Neither the pilot nor passenger survived. It was also pretty easy to follow the well worn path just by looking as well, but the spray painted markings definitely made it easier. Areas; NC West and Mountains . The first half of the hike is straight down the ridge and then you have to hike back up the spine of the connecting knobs. The sun shining down on the North Carolina mountains is truly a sight we will never forget! After making eye-contact with her, I recognized it was Allison from work. Skip to main content. Or perhaps in this case, maybe not quite close enough. Theres a large free parking area, visitor center for more information on the area, and some beautiful views here so its worth checking out. Read Also: 5 abandoned places in the Smokies you didnt know existed. True! Meteorological conditions at the crash site included low clouds and precipitation. Drew had said it was a short hike from Waterrock to Browning Knob, and that the plane crash was just off to the left. Book your tickets online for Waterrock Knob, Maggie Valley: See 321 reviews, articles, and 262 photos of Waterrock Knob, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 12 attractions in Maggie Valley. From Waterrock Knob, which is named for the spring near the summit where hunters would refill their canteens, the trail is small, mostly unmarked and easily missed. The grandmother laughed and grabbed my arm. from Mike Schoeffel. Did you know that there are several airplane crashes that have happened in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park? Although we were dealing with low visibility, we knew we had reached Browning Knob once the forest cleared and we came to another lookout. The airplane never reached its destination and the two people on board were killed in the crash. North Carolina Hiking: Cessna 414 Plane Crash & Sunset at Waterrock Knob. I couldnt find any engines at the site and after a little research it turns out that they were salvaged soon after the crash. January 11, 2022 | Julie Roland Realty | Route 64 Blog, Route 64 Journal. Beautiful sunset, viewed from the Waterrock Knob parking lot upon returning after the hike. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com. The final radar contact was at 6,100 feet and about 1 mile from the crash site. This trail is rocky, narrow . Graffiti covered the white paint. Not only is Waterrock Knob the trail you need to take to get to the airplane crash, it also offers amazing views of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. When you do meet new and interesting people, youll find its like waking up from a sound sleep. The trail turns to dirt and continues for another quarter mile until Waterrock Knob. You also could like hiking at Deep Creek. The adventure started at Waterrock Knob. Haha good call. The hike is about 2 miles long. And it appears to have had some holes kicked into it as well. The nicely paved trail eventually transitions into a fairly strenuous trail with many stairs leading the way. I have an awesome cinematic hiking vlog here for you guys!. Ernest Martin, founder and owner of Martin Tool Works, Inc., was the he in question. While theres the obviously sad nature of why the plane is there to begin with, Im always interested in hikes that have some site, historical or otherwise, to see. Because this hike is difficult, you will more than likely get hungry! We all know that North Carolina has much to offer; however, it's home to only one known plane crash site. I created this little PDF with some very basic info thats easy to print off if you are thinkingabout hiking to the crashclick here or click the image below to download: Do you have any favorite hikes in the Smoky Mountains? To start the trail, you simply follow the hike to Waterrock Knob. Hope you prayed for the departed. Now it's as worse as it's ever been. 2023 Atlas Obscura. It was a plan that worked, until it didnt. I think about how this section of the mountain range probably wasnt a trail at the time. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Start at the Waterrock Visitor Center at Milepost 451.2 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. This leads down the mountainside for approximately 200 yards to reach the crash site. Oh and also, fuck Lauren and Trent . The windows were smashed; dark holes appearing to mysteriously lead into another dimension. The conversation started with a thirty something tan-skinned guy with dark brown hair and brown eyes, and an older man with grey hair and the same color skin. I listened intently to his point by point directions. Waterrock Knob - Milepost 451.2. The Plane Crash Site near the Waterrock Knob Trail. Completely agree! The distance from the parking lot to the Waterrock Knob lookout is a 0.5 mile steep trek, and begins with a nice paved trail but does have some steep stairs along the way. Its definitely sad but interesting to see! Will you be taking the hike? Recommendations: We highly recommend a hike to Waterrock Knob to visitors in the Maggie Valley/Waynesville area. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. I recommend bringing lunch with you to enjoy at the top of Browning Knob. But the hike is definitley one of my favorites. Harold Blackwood photo. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and a partner of other affiliate programs including Booking.com, CJ and Tripster, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases via links found in this article. Then I looked at my pictures from a year out so ago and realized that indeed it has been cleaned. Just before you reach the last stretch of trail to the top, you should see a fairly obvious trail leading off to the left, marked with flagging tape. Climbing up this mountain was quite a Hike and was a bigger chore than I realized it would be. In 1983, this Cessna 414 was traveling from Chicago, IL to a small airport in western North Carolina. Waterrock Knob is a mountain peak in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Be sure to wear hiking boots because the trail is rocky, dont forget your reusable water bottle, and bring a map and compass in case you get lost. The trail begins at the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and continues for a quarter mile up a well-marked, paved path to an observation point . Please feel free to subscribe below fornotifications regarding new blog posts, travel destinations, photography updates and newly available art. Jun 25, 2018. Length 1.7 miElevation gain 692 ftRoute type Out & back. Glad we saw the same thing. Hike this trail for another .5 mile and you will then reach the top of Browning Knob. This is very interesting and eerie at the same time. The views are epic and sweeping: Our drive to Waterrock Knob along the parkway began with sunny skies, but quickly transitioned into an eerie, but mystical, hazy day with fog and clouds sweeping between the mountains as we increased in elevation. He went on to explain its an unofficial trail, and the navigation can be treacherous. The Ranger was giving directions to two guys in shorts and tee-shirts. Finding the summit is easy as the trail turns towards . Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism.

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