The Nevada Triangle: 2,000+ Aircraft Mysteriously Vanished in America's Deadliest Airspace
The Nevada Triangle, a mysterious region spanning from Las Vegas to Fresno and up to Reno, has claimed an astonishing 2,000 aircraft over the past 60 years—making it significantly more deadly than its more famous counterpart, the Bermuda Triangle. This remote area of 25,000 square miles, primarily owned by the United States government, has become notorious for unexplained aviation disappearances since 1938, coincidentally around the same time that Area 51 began operations.
What makes these disappearances particularly perplexing is that many involve highly experienced pilots, including military personnel flying advanced aircraft. The 2007 vanishing of record-breaking aviator Steve Fossett stands as perhaps the most high-profile case. Despite his exceptional survival skills and expertise, Fossett's remains were only partially recovered a year after his disappearance. Other notable incidents include military bombers that remained missing for decades, pilots who survived against impossible odds, and aircraft that simply vanished without explanation despite extensive search efforts.
Key Takeaways
The Nevada Triangle has claimed approximately 2,000 aircraft since 1938, far exceeding the Bermuda Triangle's toll over a similar timeframe.
Many victims were experienced pilots flying advanced aircraft, with wreckage often remaining undiscovered for decades or never found at all.
Extreme environmental conditions like powerful downdrafts may explain some crashes, though many disappearances remain shrouded in mystery.
The Mysterious Nevada Triangle
The Nevada Triangle, a lesser-known counterpart to the famous Bermuda Triangle, has claimed an astonishing number of aircraft. While the Bermuda Triangle has seen approximately 50 ships and 20 planes vanish over six decades, the Nevada Triangle has swallowed nearly 2,000 aircraft in the same timeframe—almost one plane per week.
This dangerous zone spans approximately 25,000 square miles of mountain desert within the Sierra Nevada range between Nevada and California. The triangle is typically defined by three points: Las Vegas, Nevada in the southeast; Fresno, California in the west; and Reno, Nevada at the northern point.
Most of the land within this mysterious triangle belongs to the U.S. government, including Area 51, which began operations in 1938—coincidentally when planes first started disappearing in the region. The first documented disappearance occurred that same year, raising questions about potential connections.
What makes these disappearances particularly puzzling is the caliber of pilots involved. Many were experienced aviators, including military personnel flying advanced aircraft. These weren't amateur pilots making navigational errors, but trained professionals who vanished under inexplicable circumstances.
Notable Disappearances:
Steve Fossett (2007): The world-record-holding aviator and adventurer disappeared while flying over Nevada's Great Basin Desert. Despite his extraordinary survival skills and experience, Fossett vanished. His remains were discovered a year later, though only a few bones were recovered.
B-24 Bomber (1943): A military bomber with its full crew disappeared during a routine training mission from Fresno to Tucson. The search effort led to another bomber vanishing while looking for the first. The second was eventually found underwater in Huntington Lake Reservoir, while the first was discovered years later in what's now called Hester Lake.
Lt. David Steeves (1957): Piloting a T-33 training jet, Steeves disappeared and was declared dead. Remarkably, he reappeared 54 days later, claiming his plane exploded and he survived in the wilderness. His story was doubted until 20 years later when Boy Scouts found his jet canopy, partially confirming his account.
Charles Ogle (1964): A Marine Corps-trained pilot and wealthy real estate developer who disappeared while flying from Oakland to Las Vegas. Neither he nor his aircraft were ever found.
Theories about these disappearances range from the meteorological to the conspiratorial. Some experts believe unique atmospheric conditions in the region create powerful downdrafts that can exceed aircraft climbing capabilities. In Fossett's case, investigators hypothesize he encountered 650 feet-per-minute downdrafts while his aircraft could only climb at 500 feet per minute.
The remoteness of the terrain compounds the mystery, as crash sites often remain undiscovered for decades—if they're found at all. When wreckage is located, it sometimes raises more questions than answers, particularly in military cases where information remains classified.
Territorial Questions and Area 51
The Nevada Triangle, a mysterious region spanning approximately 25,000 square miles between Nevada and California, encompasses land primarily owned by the United States government. This area, typically defined by the points of Las Vegas, Fresno, and Reno, contains numerous military installations and restricted zones.
Area 51, located northwest of Las Vegas, stands as the most notable government facility within this region. Interestingly, research activities at Area 51 reportedly began in 1938—the same year the first aircraft disappearances were documented in the Nevada Triangle.
The correlation between government land ownership and aircraft incidents raises significant questions. Within this expansive territory, nearly 2,000 aircraft have vanished over the past six decades—a shocking average of almost one plane per week. Yet public awareness of these incidents remains surprisingly limited.
Military presence in the region is substantial. Many of the missing aircraft were military planes, including experimental aircraft with classified designs. One such incident occurred on July 11, 1986, when Major Ross Mulheron crashed an F-117 near Bakersfield, California, with the true cause never officially revealed to the public.
Congressional sources have indicated some of these crashes involved aircraft designed with special materials and structural features—details that remain classified to this day. The manufacturers of these experimental craft reportedly include Lockheed Martin, suggesting advanced military technology testing occurs regularly within this airspace.
The government's extensive land holdings in the region facilitate secretive operations and testing. This territorial control also allows for restricted access to crash sites, potentially explaining why wreckage from numerous incidents has never been recovered or publicly documented despite extensive search efforts.
Unusual Disappearances and Crashes
The Nevada Triangle represents one of aviation's most mysterious danger zones, claiming approximately 2,000 aircraft over the past six decades—a staggering rate of almost one plane per week. This 25,000-square-mile region, spanning from Las Vegas to Fresno and up to Reno, has proven far deadlier than the more famous Bermuda Triangle, which has claimed only about 20 planes in a similar timeframe.
What makes these disappearances particularly baffling is that many involved experienced pilots. Military personnel, professional aviators, and even record-holders have vanished in this region, often without a trace.
The first documented disappearances began around 1938—coincidentally when research at Area 51 reportedly commenced. Much of the land within the triangle belongs to the U.S. government, including the secretive military installation northwest of Las Vegas.
Notable Cases
Year Pilot/Aircraft Circumstances 1943 B-24 Bomber Vanished during training mission from Fresno to Tucson 1943 Second B-24 Disappeared while searching for the first missing bomber 1957 Lt. David Steeves Reappeared 54 days after being declared dead; his story was only confirmed 20 years later when part of his canopy was found 1964 Charles Ogle Marine Corps-trained pilot who vanished en route to Las Vegas 1986 Major Ross Mulheron F-117 crash near Bakersfield with causes never officially disclosed 2007 Steve Fossett World-record holder found deceased after extensive search
The 1943 B-24 bomber case highlights the triangle's mysteries. After the first bomber vanished, a search party of nine additional B-24s was dispatched—and one of these search planes also disappeared. The first bomber was eventually discovered in an unnamed lake (later named Hester Lake after the co-pilot's father who spent 14 years searching). The second bomber was found submerged 190 feet underwater when a reservoir was drained in 1955.
Steve Fossett's 2007 disappearance brought renewed attention to the region. Despite being an expert aviator who had circumnavigated the globe in a hot air balloon and held numerous flight records, Fossett vanished during a routine flight. After a month-long search, he was declared dead. His remains were discovered a year later, with only two bones recovered approximately half a mile from the crash site.
Several theories attempt to explain these disappearances. Some scientists point to unique atmospheric conditions, including powerful downdrafts exceeding 650 feet per minute—faster than many aircraft can climb. In Fossett's case, investigators found no mechanical issues with his plane, leaving environmental factors as a likely cause.
The Nevada Triangle's mysteries continue to deepen with each new incident, and many crash sites remain undiscovered in this remote, mountainous desert region.
United States Government Ownership
The vast majority of land within the Nevada Triangle falls under United States government control. This federal ownership creates an interesting backdrop for the numerous aircraft disappearances reported in the region. The triangle spans approximately 25,000 square miles of mountain desert terrain between Nevada and California.
Area 51, a highly classified military facility, sits northwest of Las Vegas within the triangle's boundaries. Notably, aircraft disappearances began occurring around 1938—coincidentally when research activities reportedly commenced in what would later be designated as Area 51.
Federal oversight of this remote territory may partly explain why many crash sites remain undiscovered despite extensive search efforts. The rugged, sparsely populated landscape creates natural challenges for search and recovery operations, even with government resources deployed.
Military presence in the region is substantial, with many of the missing aircraft being military planes on training missions or experimental flights. The 1943 B-24 bomber disappearance during a routine night training mission and Major Ross Mulheron's 1986 F-117 crash near Bakersfield, California, represent significant military losses in the area.
Congressional sources have indicated some crashes involved experimental aircraft with classified designs and special materials, suggesting government testing activities in this controlled airspace. Such operations might explain the relative silence surrounding the alarming frequency of aircraft losses compared to more publicized regions like the Bermuda Triangle.
Infamous Incidents and Missing Aircrafts
The Nevada Triangle, a mysterious region spanning from Las Vegas to Fresno and up to Reno, has claimed approximately 2,000 aircraft over the past 60 years—a staggering rate of almost one plane per week. This 25,000-square-mile area of mountain desert has proven far deadlier than the more famous Bermuda Triangle, which has only lost about 20 planes during the same period.
What makes these disappearances particularly baffling is that many involved experienced pilots flying under seemingly normal conditions. Even highly trained military personnel operating advanced aircraft have vanished without explanation.
Notable Disappearances
Steve Fossett (2007) - Perhaps the most famous case involved world-record holder Steve Fossett, an expert aviator who had previously circumnavigated the globe in a hot air balloon. On September 3, Fossett departed in his single-engine plane over Nevada's Great Basin desert and never returned. After a month-long search, he was declared dead. A year later, a hiker discovered his ID cards, leading to the location of the crash site about 65 miles from his departure point. Only two bones were recovered, confirmed to be Fossett's remains.
Military Bombers (1943) - One of the first documented losses involved a B-24 bomber that vanished during a routine training mission from Fresno to Tucson. When nine B-24s were dispatched to search for it, another bomber disappeared. The second aircraft was eventually discovered in 1955 at the bottom of Huntington Lake Reservoir, with five crew members still at their stations. The first bomber wasn't located until 1960, when geological researchers found wreckage in a remote lake now known as Hester Lake.
Lieutenant David Steeves (1957) - Air Force Lieutenant Steeves disappeared while flying a T-33 training jet from San Francisco to Arizona. Declared dead after an extensive search, Steeves remarkably reappeared 54 days later at a camp in Kings Canyon National Park. He claimed his plane had experienced an explosion, forcing him to eject and survive for weeks in freezing conditions. Though many doubted his story, the canopy of his jet was discovered by Boy Scouts 20 years later, partially validating his account. The main wreckage remains missing.
Multiple Military Losses - On October 4, 1941, five military aircraft went down in a single day in the triangle. Lieutenant Leonard C. Liden survived by parachuting to safety, but his P-40 was never recovered despite reportedly crashing within a mile of his landing site.
Charles Ogle (1964) - A Marine Corps-trained pilot and wealthy real estate developer, Ogle departed from Oakland heading to Las Vegas but vanished entirely. Neither he nor his aircraft were ever located.
Theories and Speculation
Several explanations have been proposed for these disappearances. Some meteorologists point to the region's unusual atmospheric conditions, particularly powerful downdrafts that can exceed aircraft climbing capabilities. In Fossett's case, investigators speculate he may have encountered 650 feet-per-minute downdrafts while his plane could only climb at 500 feet per minute.
The area's topography creates challenges for search and recovery. The remote, rugged terrain makes finding wreckage extremely difficult, with many crash sites remaining undiscovered decades later.
The Nevada Triangle's proximity to Area 51 has fueled conspiracy theories. Some note that planes began disappearing around 1938—coinciding with early research at what would become the secretive military installation. The classified nature of some military crashes, such as Major Ross Mulheron's 1986 F-117 incident near Bakersfield, has only intensified speculation about what truly happens in this enigmatic region.
Mysterious Incidents
The Steve Fossett Search
Steve Fossett's 2007 disappearance represents one of the Nevada Triangle's most high-profile aviation mysteries. Fossett was no amateur pilot—he held multiple world records for solo flights, balloon journeys, and was an accomplished adventurer with expertise in mountain climbing and endurance sports. On September 3, he took off in his single-engine aircraft over Nevada's Great Basin desert and vanished.
After an extensive month-long search effort, authorities declared him dead. The following year, a hiker discovered Fossett's identification cards approximately 65 miles from his departure point. Investigators subsequently located the crash site and found two bones about half a mile away, later confirmed as Fossett's remains. The rest of his remains were likely scattered by wildlife in the remote area.
The B-24 Bomber Incidents
In 1943, one of the earliest recorded Nevada Triangle disappearances involved a B-24 bomber that vanished during a routine training mission from Fresno to Tucson. The military initiated a search operation the next day, dispatching nine B-24 bombers—incredibly, one of these search aircraft also disappeared without a trace.
In 1955, when workers drained Huntington Lake Reservoir for dam repairs, they discovered the second missing bomber resting 190 feet underwater with five crew members still at their stations. Records indicated the crew had experienced severe turbulence and hydraulic failure before attempting to land on what they mistakenly believed was frozen terrain.
Clinton Hester, father of the co-pilot from the first missing bomber, conducted a private 14-year search for his son, dying in 1959 without finding any evidence. A year later, geological researchers discovered aircraft wreckage in a remote lake, confirmed to be the first missing B-24. This previously unnamed body of water is now known as Hester Lake in remembrance.
Lieutenant David Steeves' Remarkable Tale
In May 1957, Air Force Lieutenant David Steeves disappeared while piloting a T-33 training jet from San Francisco to Arizona. After extensive searches yielded nothing, the military declared the 23-year-old pilot deceased.
Remarkably, 54 days after his disappearance, Steeves emerged from the wilderness in Kings Canyon National Park, emaciated and wearing tattered clothing. He reported that his aircraft had experienced an explosion, forcing him to eject. Despite injuries from his landing, he crawled over 20 miles through freezing conditions without food for 15 days before finding an abandoned cabin with supplies.
Many doubted his account, with some accusing him of selling his aircraft to foreign interests. Steeves maintained his innocence until his untimely death in another aircraft accident several years later. Twenty years after his original crash, Boy Scouts hiking in the area discovered the canopy of his jet, partially vindicating his story—though the remainder of the aircraft has never been found.
Other Mystifying Events
The Nevada Triangle has claimed numerous other aircraft under bizarre circumstances:
October 4, 1941: Five military aircraft crashed on a single day. Lieutenant Leonard Lydon parachuted to safety after his squadron became disoriented over the mountains. His P-40P reportedly crashed within a mile of his landing location in Kings Canyon National Park but was never recovered.
August 1964: Charles Ogle, a wealthy real estate developer and Marine Corps-trained pilot, departed Oakland heading for Las Vegas but vanished completely. Despite his experience, neither Ogle nor his aircraft were ever located.
July 1986: Major Ross Mulheron crashed an F-117 near Bakersfield, California. The official cause remains classified, with congressional sources suggesting he was piloting an experimental aircraft with unconventional structural features.
Weather patterns in the region may contribute to these incidents. Some experts theorize that powerful downdrafts exceeding 650 feet per minute—more than some aircraft's maximum climb rates—might pull planes downward with catastrophic results. However, like many aspects of the Nevada Triangle, definitive explanations remain elusive.
Possible Explanations
Several theories attempt to explain the numerous aircraft disappearances in the Nevada Triangle. Weather patterns likely play a significant role in these incidents. The unique topography of the Sierra Nevada mountains creates dangerous downdrafts that can exceed 650 feet per minute—faster than many aircraft can climb. These powerful air currents may overwhelm even experienced pilots like Steve Fossett.
The remoteness of the region contributes to the difficulty in locating crash sites. With 25,000 square miles of mountainous desert terrain, aircraft wreckage can remain hidden for decades. This explains why planes like Lieutenant David Steeves' T-33 jet remained undiscovered for 20 years, with only the canopy eventually being found by Boy Scouts.
Government secrecy surrounding Area 51 fuels some theories. It's worth noting that the first recorded disappearances in 1938 coincided with the beginning of research activities in the area. The military presence in the region might explain why information about certain crashes, like Major Ross Mulheron's F-117 incident, remains classified.
Some experts point to the possibility of equipment failure caused by unusual electromagnetic disturbances in the region. These could potentially interfere with navigation systems and communications, leaving pilots disoriented in challenging terrain.
Wildlife may contribute to the mysterious nature of some crashes. In Steve Fossett's case, only two bones were recovered at some distance from the crash site, with animals likely responsible for scattering the remains.
The timeline of disappearances shows a consistent pattern since the 1930s:
Year Notable Incident 1938 First recorded disappearance 1943 B-24 bomber vanishes during training 1955 Second missing bomber discovered underwater 1957 Lt. David Steeves' T-33 disappears 1964 Charles Ogle vanishes en route to Las Vegas 1986 Major Mulheron's classified aircraft crash 2007 Steve Fossett disappears
Despite extensive search efforts, many aircraft remain missing. The discovery of eight additional wrecks during the search for Fossett demonstrates how many crashes go undetected in this mysterious region.
Conspiracy Theories and Speculations
The Nevada Triangle has generated numerous theories to explain its disturbing pattern of aircraft disappearances. Unlike its more famous Atlantic counterpart, this western mystery zone has claimed approximately 2,000 aircraft over the past six decades—an astonishing average of nearly one plane per week.
Several geographical and political factors fuel speculation. The triangle spans from Las Vegas to Fresno and up to Reno, encompassing about 25,000 square miles of remote mountain desert. Most of this land belongs to the U.S. government, with Area 51 situated notably within its boundaries.
The timing of disappearances raises eyebrows among conspiracy theorists. Aircraft began vanishing in 1938—coincidentally the same year research reportedly began at Area 51. This correlation has led some to question whether classified military activities might be connected to the incidents.
Notable Unexplained Cases:
Year Aircraft/Pilot Circumstances 1943 B-24 Bomber Vanished during training; found 17 years later in an unnamed lake 1943 Search B-24 Disappeared while searching for the first missing bomber 1957 Lt. David Steeves Reappeared 54 days after crash; faced accusations of selling his plane to Russians 1964 Charles Ogle Marine-trained pilot vanished en route to Las Vegas; no wreckage ever found 1986 Major Ross Mulheron F-117 crash with classified details; congressional sources mentioned "special materials" 2007 Steve Fossett World-record aviator disappeared; minimal remains found a year later
Some theories focus on atmospheric phenomena unique to the region. Meteorologists point to extreme downdrafts in the Sierra Nevada mountains that can exceed 650 feet per minute—faster than many aircraft can climb. In Fossett's case, such conditions could have overwhelmed his plane's 500 feet-per-minute climbing capability.
The disappearance of entire crews adds another layer of mystery. The 1955 discovery of a bomber under Huntington Lake Reservoir revealed five crewmen still at their stations, contradicting survivor accounts about conditions at the crash site.
Military involvement raises additional questions. Many vanished planes were piloted by highly trained Air Force personnel flying advanced aircraft. The lack of transparency around these incidents, particularly those involving experimental aircraft, has fueled speculation about government secrecy.
The discovery pattern is equally perplexing. When searches locate crash sites, they often find incomplete evidence—like Fossett's limited remains or the canopy of Steeves' jet found twenty years after his ordeal, while the rest of the aircraft remained missing.
Environmental Factors and Scientific Theories
The Nevada Triangle presents one of aviation's most perplexing mysteries. This 25,000-square-mile region spanning from Las Vegas to Reno and westward to Fresno has claimed approximately 2,000 aircraft over the past six decades—a startling average of nearly one plane per week. This rate far exceeds the more famous Bermuda Triangle, which has recorded only about 20 planes vanishing during the same period.
Meteorological conditions likely play a significant role in these disappearances. The Sierra Nevada mountains create unique atmospheric disturbances that can be lethal to aircraft. Some experts point to powerful downdrafts exceeding 650 feet per minute—more than most small aircraft's maximum climbing capability of 500 feet per minute—essentially pulling planes downward with irresistible force.
The terrain itself presents challenges for both flight and recovery efforts. Mountainous landscapes combined with vast desert expanses make crashes difficult to locate. Many wreckages remain undiscovered for decades, if found at all. In fact, several notable recovery efforts have uncovered previously unknown crash sites.
Wind turbulence has been documented in several cases. The 1955 B-24 bomber discovered in Huntington Lake Reservoir experienced severe wind turbulence and hydraulic pressure loss before crashing. This pattern of sudden, extreme weather conditions appears repeatedly in Nevada Triangle incidents.
The government owns most land within the triangle, including the secretive Area 51 facility. Coincidentally, plane disappearances began around 1938—the same period when research activities commenced in the area. This timing has fueled speculation about possible connections between government activities and aircraft incidents.
Military aircraft seem particularly vulnerable in this region. On October 4, 1941, five military aircraft went down in a single day. The 1986 crash of Major Ross Mulheron's F-117 near Bakersfield remains partially classified, with congressional sources indicating he flew an experimental aircraft with special materials and unusual structural features.
Even experienced aviators face insurmountable challenges here. Steve Fossett—world-record holder, expert pilot, mountain climber, and ultramarathoner—vanished in 2007 while flying over the Great Basin Desert. Despite his exceptional survival skills, only bone fragments were discovered nearly a year later, with the main wreckage found 65 miles from his departure point.
The National Transportation Safety Board found no mechanical issues with Fossett's aircraft, leaving environmental factors as the most likely cause. These mysterious conditions continue to plague the Nevada Triangle, creating an aviation danger zone that remains inadequately explained by conventional science.
Reflections on the Nevada Triangle
The Nevada Triangle presents an unsettling aerial mystery that far exceeds the more famous Bermuda Triangle in both scale and danger. While the Bermuda Triangle has claimed approximately 50 ships and 20 planes over six decades, the Nevada Triangle has swallowed nearly 2,000 aircraft in the same timeframe—averaging almost one plane per week.
This 25,000-square-mile region spanning from Las Vegas to Fresno to Reno encompasses remote mountain desert terrain where many crash sites remain undiscovered. Most of this land belongs to the U.S. government, including Area 51, which began research operations in 1938—coincidentally when plane disappearances started being reported.
The disappearances aren't limited to inexperienced pilots. Many victims were highly trained military aviators operating advanced aircraft. Steve Fossett's 2007 vanishing stands as one of the most perplexing cases. Despite being a world-record holder with expertise in flying solo aircraft and gliders, this accomplished aviator disappeared during what should have been a routine flight.
Notable Disappearances:
A B-24 bomber with full crew in 1943
Second B-24 sent to find the first (later discovered underwater with crew still at stations)
Lt. David Steeves in 1957 (miraculously survived)
Five military aircraft on a single day in October 1941
Charles Ogle, a wealthy developer and Marine-trained pilot, in 1964
Major Ross Mulheron's F-117 crash in 1986
The unique climate conditions may explain some crashes. Powerful downdrafts reaching 650 feet per minute can overwhelm aircraft with climbing capabilities of only 500 feet per minute, making escape impossible. However, many cases lack conclusive explanations despite thorough investigations.
For pilots like David Steeves, vindication came too late. After surviving 54 days in the wilderness following his 1957 crash, he faced doubts and accusations about his story. Only decades later did Boy Scouts discover his jet canopy, partially confirming his account, though the main wreckage remains missing.
The Nevada Triangle continues to guard its secrets, with many aircraft and their occupants never recovered from this mysterious region of American wilderness.
