The Crash of Flight 416 West - A Forgotten Tale of Turnbull Canyon
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- Flight 416 West left New York City on April 16, 1952, and crashed into the hills above Whittier, and Hacienda Heights California on April 18, 1952 killing all 29 passengers aboard. This are is also known as Turnbull Canyon.
Thank you so much for having this documentary on flight 416. My brother Dominic A. Chiera was on this flight. My daughter discovered this On you tube and I can't thank you enough.
Savillia Johnson My pleasure. Im Glad you found this video. I included your brother's name in the credits of this video. Locally this crash had become an urban legend and I wanted to pay tribute to the very real people with very real lives who were on this flight. Thank you for watching.
I was a toddler and my brother, who died 17 years ago, was a babe in arms. Thanks for this story that seems so long ago. And thanks for “I’ll Fly Away.” What a great old American tune! I remember some things from my childhood in those years. It was a different age, a better age, a simpler age, a more hopeful age. But mortality was just as real.
I'm a resident of Hacienda Heights and came across this video while looking for something else. I must congratulate you on an excellently made video. It is easy to see that much time and effort was made to produce it. Fantastic story, I knew nothing about this incident. Thank you.
From one Hank to the other, well said! I agree 100%!
I've frequented this area my entire life just about.
Grew up in la mirada and lived for many years in la habra and a few in Whittier.
I never heard of this. Sad.
I also rode dirt bikes up in these canyons and my best friend's grandparents lived off f Hacienda off Whittier blvd. In the track homes where Tommy's burgers used to be
This is one of the best told Memorial Tributes I have watched and listened to. Rest In Peace. A similar Crash of a B-17 that was part of the A Bomb development program occurred on top of Whites Hill in Marin County Calif. I grew up in Fairfax and at the Base of Whites Hill . My Grandfather and one of My Uncles guided the rescuers to the site. A friends Dad had been a colonel in the Air Force. In his Youth He flew supplies over the Himalaya’s “ The Hump” into China During WW2 in a C-46. Rest In Peace Colonel Samuel DiCarlo, You Were a true friend. Whenever I listen to Dick Jonas and the Rowdy’s I think of You.
I live by it, the hiking trail is behind my backyard. I had a few paranormal experiences at my house.
I've heard some ghost stories from that neighborhood, I'd be interested in hearing your story to see if there is anything similar to what I've heard.
Please elaborate
I remember the day. I was a junior at Whittier High then. I, with two other kids, hiked up there about two weeks later. Got withing about a half mile of the site and the smell was still sickening. We turned back and went home. This video is the first really good information on the crash I've ever seen. By the way, the route that the plane took is still one of the main approaches to LAX, only the aircraft are at a much higher altitude and are using precision guidance.
Very well researched segment! Only seeing this today. I grew up in Whittier. Thanks!
My TV was randomly tuned to channel 3 after switching the input back from watching a movie. This story was on and it grabbed my attention. I couldn't stop watching. You see, my brother in law died in a plane that crashed against a hillside much like this in Costa Rica in 1994. It's always been in the back of my mind that I'd find a way to tell the story.
Extremely well done documentary. I learned something interesting today. Thanks for posting.
Are you gonna make anymore forgotten tales on Whittier & Turnbull Canyons?? It's my hometown and love watching these from you.! Great job on them to by the way.
More to come... our next one will be ready soon, and will be about a Forgotten Tale in La Puente... Stay Tuned...
That would be awesome.
Loved exploring this area but never heard of this plane crash.
*You should also do one on "Motorcycle Hill" which was at Beach Boulevard and Rosecrans.
I heard there used to be an indian burial ground OR I'm pretty sure that it's still there. What's left of the cliffs that remain
I’ve never met you but your work screams ”what a great guy!” Great product! Wow! Fantastic! Thank you and all involved for contributing to such a fine work. …you’d think I liked it or something… ;) Please keep up the good work- hats off to you…need I go on???
Great Doc. Turnbull Canyon always had mysteries talked about. It's good to know the history.
so fascinating, thank you for a wonderful documentary about this event in our Whittier/Hacienda community. I cycle and run and hike over Turnbull and the trails. This must have happened near the top, south of Turnbull Cyn Rd and Skyline intersection, around where the current electrical towers are, west of, or around Belle River drive.
Awesome job on this. I live in Hacienda Heights. I heard about this crash but I never knew the details.
Excellent job John! You dig deep, great work...
Great work as always! Thoroughly researched and excellently executed. SoCal isn't just sprawling suburbs, it has fascinating history that Garside's documentary series are bringing to light.
My grandfather died on that 1952 North Continental Airlines flight.
The airline had numerous safety violations against it,and the pilot had a medical restriction against his aviator license.
Nice Production Sir.
Thank you for this! You did a really good job. I just discovered this story when listening to Morbid, a true crime podcast. Looks like they could have been inspired by your video
Do you know which episode of the podcast you were listening to? Id love to hear what they say.
@@forgottensocal certainly! Episode 216, the mysterious and cursed Turnbull canyon. I believe it's the last story they talk about. I wanted to look more into this story after hearing about it on their podcsst and that's how I found your video. I thought it matched up pretty well
@@forgottensocal i look forward to seeing your other videos! I appreciate your story telling and thoroughness
@@forgottensocal I think there's a documentary as well? They could have seen that
As far as I know, this is the only documentary about Flight 416 West. Before this, there were only local urban legends and tall tales online.
Thank you! My grandparents wherein the flight and we never had enough information about it. I just found it. great work
What were your grandparents names?
@@forgottensocal Hi, my grandparents were: Hartog and Mariem Walg. They left my mother Evelyn (12) and her sister Leny(8) orphans at such early age. They were Holocaust survivors looking for a better future in Los Angeles. By the time they had been living in Caracas-Venezuela since 1944 after scaping Europe under Nazi occupation. A sad story on top of a tragic event. I was named Henry after him.
@@Bestshotpro How sad. God Bless.
The flight attendant's sister died 4 years later. That must have been so hard for the the mom to lose her husband and both daughters all in 4 years. I wonder what happened to the sister
Great job with this! My grandfather and his new wife were allegedly heading to the west coast to start a new life (possibly with and infant) and died on this flight. Details are sketchy on this side but I'm told that he and his wife set out from from Boston. I thought this flight started in Boston after all the stories that were passed down but the film doesn't corroborate this. Also, there are misspellings in some of these names in the film that also made it into the news papers at the time. I believe this is likely because they were taken from a handwritten manifest. Specifically, the names should have been Mr. & Mrs. Michael Smedile, (not Smedley). And I think this other name "Mrs. M Sonedile" should really be Mrs. M. Smedile. For what its worth. There was also some mention of belongings surviving the crash. Would love to hear about anything related and will check back again.
Thanks YT algorithm, this in itself is a forgotten gem.
:)
@@forgottensocal glad to see that you are still around, it's been a while since any videos were uploaded so you really never know 🙂. Enjoyed watching, thank you.
Great job on this thanks for all the time and research you put into it.
great video. I really enjoyed it. Thank you for putting together all of these videos. Do you happen to have the coordinates of the crash? Would love to visit the site.
Great documentary. I really enjoyed watching this video!
Excellent job! Really informative and entertaining!
My dad was an AFv pilot in the 50 and 60's. There was a cargo or passenger lost at least once month.
so sad!! Great editing!!
This was pretty informative. Can you research Dead Man's Tree in Carbon Canyon ?
I moved to the Valinda Area from Baldwin Park when our place was condemned for the new high school about 1954. The Walnut Hills mall was the creek and walnut groves we rode our bikes and swam in.
My hometown, always up for a good historic story.
I grew up with family employed by assorted non scheds...job hopping...you brought back memories.
Really loved the series of features on Turnbull Canyon!
a lot of people don't know that when the fog rolls in to so calif it rolls in thick. Trying to get underit will put you on the ground.
Fascinating! Thank you for posting!
Well done! My first video on this channel. Very much liked it.
Excellent research and film editing. Thank you. Is Juan Etchebarren, mentioned as a witness, the father of Andy Etchebarren? The latter grew up in La Puente and went on to star with the Baltimore Orioles in the 1960s..
David Crain Juan Etchebarren was Andy's Grandfather. we had that in the original script... However, it really didn't move the story along. But yes, those were his Grandparents.
David Crain YES IT IS ...
Juan and Grace Etchebarren lived at the very end La Belle Street until the early 60s, so pretty close to the crash site on Belle River. It doesn't look like the house is still standing, I think it is where Vallecito drive is now. According to Ancestry, he was a sheepherder/rancher. They later moved to a house on their son's (Andy's parents) property on Stimson. I remember walking past the house on Stimson when I walked to Mesa Robles Junior High, and seeing the elder Mrs. Etchebarren. Andy's parents owned Etchebarren Liquor store on the corner of Colima Road and Hacienda Blvd.
The other witness, rancher Hadley Jones lived on Viewfield Avenue, off of Colima road, according to Ancestry. It's pretty amazing to think of how rural it was then.
As a kid, around 1971 I lived on Montesano Place, which is one block over from La Belle. We lived on the very edge of Hacienda Heights. It was very country then, there were no other houses behind us, although there was some grading for roads and housing developments going on. Vallecito was a dirt road.
We kids had heard the story of a plane crash and that it was never found. We'd ride our bikes all over looking for a crash site, even though our parents assured us that it was an urban myth. I now realize we probably came pretty close to it, just never knew where to look! I wish I could share this video with my brother and parents~they're gone now but they would have liked learning about this lost history of Hacienda Heights. Thank you.
Juan Etchebarren was my great great uncle... I still live in la Puente
@@jennyknickerbocker8992 I live pretty close to La Belle St. and Montesano St. is nearby. A block or so west is Belle River Dr. I see a river to the west of it called the La Canada Verde Creek (according to Google). It stops on a hill very close to the west of Belle River Dr. Would that be the Belle River you referred to?
Do the Miami Airlines Curtis Commando C-46 non-sched crash in 1951 in Elizabeth New Jersey.
I watched it, Great info with good details.
I live close by and hike up in Turnbull Canyon frequently. I wonder if I've ever passed the crash site without realizing it? Does anyone know the exact location?
The title says Turnbull Canyon, but it's not in Turnbull Canyon. Rather, the crash site is about two canyons south east of Turnbull in La Canada Verde Creek canyon. (The canyon the City of Whittier recently wanted to allow oil drilling in).
The ridge the plane hit is now covered in houses along Belle River Drive, approx where Canal Point Road intersects Belle River Drive at the top of the ridge. After hitting the ridge, the plane continued west, crashing into the valley just west of Belle River Drive. I put the location on Wikimapia:
wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=33.986268&lon=-117.994258&z=16&m=b&tag=45694&show=/25172531/Robin-Airlines-crash-site-1952
You might have to pull down the menu called Categories, and click on 'historical layer'
I would guess the plane hit at about 3305 Belle River Drive in Hacienda Heights - wonder if the occupants know . . . .
This is all true... But when I made this my intention was to address the urban legends of Turnbull Canyon. And this was at the top of the hit parade. So when promoting this story, had I called it "the Forgotten Tale of La Canada Verde Creek canyon" no body would know what the hell I was talking about. However, I did mention in the video that crash site was once called Squaw Gap.
I think you got the title right - all those wacky urban legends do claim the crash occurred in Turnbull Canyon, and your video is about those legends, setting the record straight. Again, kudos for an xclnt video!
Here's a little story I heard from a resident of that neighborhood (Belle River Dr.) after I made this video. One night, 20 years ago, her next door neighbor was out walking his dog. And another man walked past him. The odd thing was he was dressed as an old time pilot. The man with the dog said hello to the pilot, but the pilot didn't reply. After they had passed one another the man with the dog turned to look back... and the pilot had vanished. I cannot confirm this story... so just take it for what it is... a story... however, its a pretty cool story.
If I may join the other comments in thanking you for this very well researched and informative video - goes well beyond the simple crash reports available for the site.
If anybody makes the trek up to the site, I've got a few small pieces of the plane I'd like to return to the site.
Id like to video tape you depositing the pieces back at the site, and hear your story about how and when you found out about the crash, and when you accuired the parts.
About 6-7yrs ago, I was reading about another crash site, and as the internet will, I eventually wondered to pictures of this crash site. Guessing the likely flight path & looking at the topography in the pictures led us to the site, where a friend found a few pieces of the plane.
Our local park rangers have no respect for history, and undoubtedly would want the pieces removed as "unnatural" trash, but I think the pieces ought to be returned to the site as part of our cultural history.
@@PacificCoastMaps I live nearby and often hike here. It is not too difficult to get to, just up and over one steep incline. If you’d like I would return them for you.
Clever use of the voice of G Pat Macha a well known aviation archeologist as the voice of the sheriffs captain.
Great video. Well written.
it wasnt human error on Powell. I always knew whittier had its grid connection and thats why whittier couldnt use certain cell phone services in mid 00s. Cricket had mad of area blocked off and it wad 80% of Wh. They couldnt say but two other company's had east coast had same do to reception interference and private sector. Turns out this is now why verizons "think space" was test along the fault line and whittier being prone to sink holes the size of cars. An area where spec is built is Lambert and colima. Its the fault and the passage from old river that spilled left before mostly drying out on the now golf course off Mat Vista n Colima. Colima had plans to use water towers (still operational) and make tunnel 40 feet wide circumference. The flood on the grape vine must of made this plan deemed tonrisky along with the electric experiment to sway molecule condensed hydrogen do to los angeles being a natural fog. Basin beingbsurrounded by u shape hills/mountain layout. So the la habra pattern still kinda used becuase ive only seen 50 flights in sky in 19 months(former aerospace emp.) And I live right under it. But the beach blvd connection to valley and military use along east westnroad and no house building bottom of hill from the connection of waste hollowing out the most from workman mill road to Brea olinda hills. Literally swept under the rug lol. But yea beach Blvd in early stages mainly military and farm roads and course surf city was giant power source along with cal tech amd whittier college giant bunker projects and agriculturist ideas based from former cal tech Nobel prize winner using magnetic field along with la brea tar pits 3 certain areas in pasadena that are 100% secret unless you have 300k and whittierbrea oil drills. Port of long beach as well but now Theres a thousand sand bars that pushed current south and boom oc is king of surf in western hem. Also that chain of current called the 605 freeway secretly powers pasadena NASA lab to Boeing in seal beach amd former Huntington beach and what was directly in the middle? Cue the Batman forever song
Seal kiss from a 🌹. In 1995 humans made contact and Rockwell sold few months later with mcdonald Douglas and Boeing Aeronautical mars Viking lift off. 2003 i got the DVD that need no popcorn because it was 13 seconds(not7) and is same footage shownnon transformers 1 movie minus starscream I think skull crushing vr1 viking rover 1. The forces and nature are and never left its just adaption. And Hz protection until past year heardball aroundbthe world. Adapt
A job well done! I think there's something in all of us that like to believe in folk lore and myths. While everything in Turnbull probably has a logical explanation, our hearts would like to feel otherwise.
There may still be pieces of the wreckage on that hillside.
Claude Parmalee was my Great Grandfather, I just learned this and doing research about him
Please keep me updated on what you learn.
Riding in the flight deck jumpseat is not dead heading. It’s called riding the jumpseat. Dead heading is when the crew all rides in the passenger section on their way to their next flight assignment
do you have a workcited page?
I've been there so many times 😱😬
The C-46 was a very reliable plane for paratroopers in WW2 you had to be reckless to crash one. It also pulled gliders on dday
LoboKhan1, Please watch the video. Those topics are addressed.
Im very sorry for your loss.
Forgotten Tale was very educational...
We are heading there this Saturday
Where?
also is there a exact location of where this plane went down?
On belle river drive there is a street called frame st. This street will give you access to a fire trail that leads you to Turnbull canyon. After you pass the first electrical tower you will begin going downhill into a canyon where the trail does a u turn up towards a 2nd electrical tower. The crash took place on this uphill part of the fire trail. You should be able to see the houses lining belle river Dr from this location.
Note: if your entering from frame st you want to enter the trail from the northwest side of the street, there is a tower on the southwest side of the street this is not the first tower. You can see a water tower from the crash site. Hope this helps.
@@julianverdugo5957I’d love to hike up to the crash site. I may just do that. I live in Cerritos, but I’ve been going to Turnbull Canyon area for years, mainly to bike all over the hills.
SGV is definitely not 30 miles from LA.
It depends on what part of SGV you're leaving from and what part of L.A. you're going to.
I think going up to the original crash site with a Metal Detector would be interesting...
The location of this, was not far from the first time I was cage-close, to something wild with no chance of being caged on this foggy morning on a road near this crashsite, the big yellow eyes of a weather-frustrated owl stared down at me from a low tree branch... just getting eye-color-close.
I did see the classic battle of a Tarantula vs the Hornet, once, too. Hornets keep dragging the Tarantula with wing strength to open and restriking when back out in the open. And exposing the King of the Spiders...🍍🍍any Macguffins, in this closet?🍍firehoses turned off---now only water draining off everything in the room of my first firefight---this16th year of the forgotten-tapestry billowing in Santa Ana Winds🍍 17:23
Forgotten-Tapestrys
Forgotten-Tapestrys
The niteB4
There's a ghost in a silver civic. If you see it, chase it
Can you explain the background of story?
John 3:16-21
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Mark 1.15
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Sad.
ARE THERE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS ON HERE OF ANY OF THE PASSENGERS ....I HAVE A BLACK LEATHER CASE BELIEV'D TO BE FOUND FROM THIS PLANE CRASH
GARY SPIRS Wow! Please contact me about this at forgottentales2013@gmail.com
NO MARKINGS
I doubt the original owners of Rancho La Puente in Valle San Gabriel was two english men .
Correct. If you will notice, the portion of the story that you are referencing, the word "settlers" was used which means "a person who moves with a group of others to live in a new country or area." If you would like to know more about the indigenes people of the San Gabriel Valley, you can look up the Tongva people.
i live there!! 💀
Too sad.... pilot error...
Any heart attack would send one off in an ambulance.. lol
911...9+1+1=11 first level of masonry
American Airlines Flight 11 (sept 11)
There are some odd photos of women in skirts and high heels climbing on the wreckage. What's up with that?
Hi Pat, If you look in the background, you will see other on lookers. After talking to other people once I finished this video, I believe the people on the ridge were possibly hikers, and people who lived near by. The woman you see with the high heels was most likely a family member of a passenger.
I just can't imagine walking in Turnbull Canyon in heels. Do you mean a survivor from the plane? I think they were just death hags.
there were no survivors. I think this may have been a relative of one of the victims. things were done differently back then. simpler times and all.
Thank you. I really enjoy Whittier history, and this was a great story.
flight 416..4+1+6=11 ...first ranking level of masonry
Good quality photos available here
www.lostflights.com/Commercial-Aviation/41852-Robin-Airlines-Curtiss-C/n-WSgPkt/
these are great. thank you for posting this link.
Interesting to look at the vegetation on the hills - back in the `50s, the vegetation was about ankle hi. Today, the vegetation at the site is chest hi or better, and very difficult to get thru.
I think they used to graze cattle in the hills . . . .
Rocket 88
Music is too loud compared to the narrator and unnecessary but the story is excellent.
except for the overly dramatic dramatization and narration I'd say just use text for the necessary facts of what occurred. Facts and information are better than bad acting and cheezy music.
that last song is hideous.