On August 17th 1983, a U.S. NAVY TA-7C Corsair II flying from California's Lemoore Naval Air Station to Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico crashed near Valle, Arizona. Lt. Cmdr. Gregory S. Thompson, age 32. was in cruise flight at 28,000 feet when his canopy suddenly separated from his aircraft. Thompson, unable to control the aircraft, safely ejected and free fell 15,000 feet before his parachute opened. The aircraft, entering a steep high-speed descent, impacted about 12 miles east of Valle and about 3 miles north of Highway 180 in Northern Arizona.
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I knew of this accident for many years, but had never been able to locate the crash site.

During a company training flight in April 2008, I discovered an impact crater with wreckage projecting to the north of the crater. I circled the site, took photos, and noted the location using my Garmin 60CSx GPS Receiver. In May, I drove to the site and was able to confirm through part numbers, the identity of wreckage as being that of the TA-7C Corsair.

The aircraft upon impact, created a crater about 20 feet across and 8 feet deep. I observed displaced and fractured lava basalt rock within the crater. Wreckage debris extended north 1,200' from the crater. Engine components in the form of first stage and compressor blades and sections were located throughout the debris field.

Overall, the site appears to be undisturbed since the investigation was completed in 1983. Kudos to Lt. Cmdr. Thompson for a safe ejection!