Picture 1: View from the satellite imagery.
Picture 2: Aircraft under private ownership in the USA.
Picture 3: Current state of aircraft
Aircraft Type: Lockheed 18 Learstar (Lodestar)
Registration: N163R
Airline: Private
Coordinates: 5°53'06.49"N 162°05'05.82"W
Only visible through satellite imagery.
This Learstar was originally built as a C-60 for the USAF in 1943. It served there for some time before going to Britain and eventually to the Norwegian Air Force. In 1951, the Lodestar (then registered T-AD) was transferred to Aero Nord as SE-BTI. At some point, it returned to the US and was converted from a C-60 to a Learstar. It was bought by a private owner and re-registered as N163R.
On January 5, 1980, N163R was carrying a group of 7 amateur radio operators to Palmyra Island Atoll. While on approach, the pilot estimated tha landing winds as 15 knots. However, trees blocked the winds and made the landing strip completely calm. Suddenly not affected by the wind, the aircraft landed hard and slid off the runway.