Craig D. Button

During the incident, Button inexplicably flew hundreds of miles off-course without radio contact, appeared to maneuver purposefully[2] and did not attempt to eject before the crash.

[4] The incident caused widespread public speculation about Button's intentions and whereabouts until the crash site was found three weeks later.

According to a letter written by Button, she raised him "to think that joining the military is wrong" and refused to allow him to wear his college Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) uniform at home.

His jet was armed with 4 Mark 82 bombs, 60 magnesium flares, and 120 metal chaff canisters, and its GAU-8 Avenger gun was loaded with 575 rounds of 30-millimeter ammunition.

[9] The jet impacted terrain about 15 miles (24 km) SW of Vail, Colorado, on Gold Dust Peak (39°28′44″N 106°35′40″W / 39.47889°N 106.59444°W / 39.47889; -106.59444) in a remote part of Eagle County.

[3] The search for the crash site was conducted by the USAF, the Colorado Army National Guard and the Civil Air Patrol.

A Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft from Beale Air Force Base in California overflew the area and identified five possible sites.

Twenty days after Button's aircraft disappeared, the crew of a National Guard helicopter spotted metal fragments in the snow on Gold Dust Peak.

Steep terrain, bad weather, high winds, deep snow, rock slides and avalanches hampered access to the site.