July 23, 2005 

On the morning of Saturday, July 23rd, rangers came upon a vehicle parked near Stovepipe Wells Sand Dunes, then saw it later that day at the same place. Rangers conducted a hasty search of the areas where they thought the driver might have traveled the following morning, but high winds reduced visibility and the search was suspended.

Later that day, the park aircraft flew over the dunes and the pilot spotted someone on the ground. Ranger later recovered the body of 50-year-old Kinhluan Nguyennogoc of Diamond Bar, California. The high temperature on Saturday was 117 degrees. Although the investigation into the cause of death continues; the extreme heat is thought to be the principal contributing cause of death. Ranger Kelly Cole was the incident commander.