Sunken B-29 Superfortress nears surface as Las Vegas Lake Mead drops

A submerged historic aircraft rests closer to the surface near Las Vegas because lake water levels fell. The plane is now accessible to any diver up to the physical challenge.

The aircraft went down on July 21, 1948. It descended toward the water surface during a flight. The altimeter showed the plane flying 400 feet above the water. A copilot verified that instrument reading.

“There was only one issue. The altimeter was off. Around 12:30 p.m., traveling at 230 miles per hour, the B-29 struck the water and sank to the bottom of Lake Mead where it still lies today,” according to a social media post Wednesday by Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The entire flight crew survived the crash. The precise underwater resting spot remained hidden for decades. A plane-shaped mass finally appeared on Las Vegas area map data in the Overton Arm during the early 2000s.

Officials had once classified the location as a technical dive open only to qualified divers. Current depth figures remain unconfirmed. Officials have not verified another recent report circulating about the plane.

“The Lake Mead B-29 is such a unique, significant resource, the National Park Service balances recreational access with protection,” Wednesday’s post said.

The post reminded readers to follow Leave No Trace principles. Divers may observe the site but cannot touch it. The fuselage measures 85 feet long.

The crash is documented online by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under National Marine Sanctuaries. Diving equipment supplier Tech Diving Limited hosts a webpage on earlier dive requirements. The National Park Service and YouTube videos also chronicle the plane.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area protects inland water bodies and surrounding desert lands. The National Park Service manages historical resources situated across federal park boundaries.

Federal officials continue managing preservation rules for the sunken plane site near Las Vegas.