Steve Fossett missing

[eagle334]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=590><TBODY><TR><TD><!--STORY_BOX--><TABLE id=photo align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>http://www.avweb.com/newspics/stevefossett_150x220.jpg (http://www.avweb.com/)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>AVIATION RECORD HOLDER STEVE FOSSETT MISSING (http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/SteveFossett_Missing_196062-1.html)

Searchers are combing an area of western Nevada looking for adventurer Steve Fossett, who was reported missing in his Citabria Super Decathlon early this morning. The Nevada Record-Courier is reporting that Fossett left the Hilton Ranch in the Smith Valley in the aircraft Monday evening. It's not known where he was heading.

Nevada Civil Air Patrol spokeswoman Maj. Cynthia Ryan said three crews were launched early today and more will be dispatched through the day. A check of neighboring airports apparently came up empty. The aircraft Fossett was seen taking off in is blue and white and the terrain in the area of the Hilton ranch is rugged and sparsely populated. Fossett is best known for his around-the-world flight in a balloon and another unrefueled flight in a single-engine jet aircraft. He was in Nevada recently preparing for a land-speed record attempt in a jet-powered car on the Bonneville Flats but it's not known why he was at the Hilton Ranch.

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/SteveFossett_Missing_196062-1.html



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[Bok269]

I hope for the best. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

[Tanner_J]

This is a huge loss for the aviation community if he is not found alive.

I actually just shot (took photos) of Steve Fossett being enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio a little over a month and a half ago. Below is a link to some photos I have gathered from the event of Steve.

http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=5802

He and his wife were some of the nicest people I have ever met, he was so happy on this day and less than 2 months later, he may be gone. Such a sad sad day.

[ASpilot2be]

I am hoping for the best.

[FlyingPhotog]

This is big news! It was the lead story on the NBC Nightly News tonight. I am hoping he's found in good condition. :(

[MELflyer]

Anyone can join in the search for Steve through the link below.

http://www.mturk.com/mturk/preview?groupId=9TSZK4G35XEZJZG21T60

[Crunk415balla]

So apperantly they turned up 8 other wrecks up in the mountians that were previously undiscovered. Holy crap.

[Bok269]

So apperantly they turned up 8 other wrecks up in the mountians that were previously undiscovered. Holy crap.

I am not sure if those wrecks were undiscovered or uncharted. I have heard that they were known about, but their location just not charted as plane wrecks have only recently been charted.

[Cam]

Any links about those???

[Crunk415balla]

Let me pull up a link. It was in the paper the other day, there was a story about a guy who took off in a Cessna 210 going OAK-RNO and dissapeared in the same spot 40 years ago without a trace, maybe one was his plane according to the article.

EDIT: Here, same article I read in the paper.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/10/MNF0S2BJT.DTL

[Cam]

Still looking (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article630401.ece)

The main search has ended but they are still looking with a high definition camera and specialized computers......

His wife has conceded that he is dead....

[Tanner_J]

It's weird that they think her admission is breaking news. I'm sure she didn't think he flew to a remote location to get away from her and live a secret life.

[Jerrycobra Boeing]

dude, i keep thinking he flew to area 51 for some secret testing, but if he reappears, he can't say anything

[FlyingPhotog]

dude, i keep thinking he flew to area 51 for some secret testing, but if he reappears, he can't say anything

Even then he would still be able to tell his wife he had to go test "somewhere." A coroner has already declared him dead in order to settle his estate.

[DAIRD]

Fossett is missing since September and lost without trace. If he should have survived the crash, he probably was injured and so he eventually coud not move to leave the crash site. No radio, no last known position and - when I remember correct - no flightplan for that short hop he planned.
I'm sure he must be dead.

[hansonator69]

I doubt that Steve Fossett is alive. No trace of him since September. It would a very slim chance of finding his body and aircraft wreckage.

[Tanner_J]

They'll find him eventually...

It's weird knowing I have some of the last photos probably taken of him and at the last large milestone of his career as he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. It's just scary thinking about photographing him and his wife so happy together and then less than a month later he's gone.

[DAIRD]

The answer is out there... Fossett was an very experienced aviator, and his experiency let people around him believe, he surely would die in his bed.
If he is not hired by ACME Dreamland Agency at Area 51 as a test-pilot, he tragically became a victim of the typical chain of little incidents leading to a desaster which probably ends his life.

[chill]

It is quite unfortunate; however, I think we knew how this would end.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gDuKsPXpMfOO6UIIbOe2yiGISUwwD8URDDL00

Self-made business tycoon Steve Fossett, whose thirst for adrenaline drove him to fly around the world solo in a balloon, climb mountains and aim for speed records, has been declared dead, 5 months after his small plane vanished. He was 63.

Godspeed Steve Fossett

[DaveGF4G]

He failed to file a flight plan...... a great aviator?

[3WE]

He failed to file a flight plan...... a great aviator?I don't think it's that simple.

It's kind of a nice freedom to hop in a plane and go out and fly around and not have to have a pre-planned flight plan signed, sealed and delivered and checked in with big brother.

The flip side is that this probably made things worse for his friends and family, apparently leaving minimal information-even unofficial information- with anyone.

A flight plan wouldn't guarantee his discovery, but would have helped the search and maybe sped things along.

It's always a good idea to file a flight plan...just in case...and especially if you are going somewhere, but it doesn't make you a crummy aviator if you don't.

[JordanD]

He failed to file a flight plan...... a great aviator?
If Fossett was just out flying around then there wouldn't have been any reason for him to file a flight plan, and it wouldn't have even been required. If he was just randomly flying around a flight plan wouldn't have been any help to rescuers anyway.
Don't pass judgement so easily when you don't no the whole story. If someone doesn't file a flightplan every time they go up, that doesn't necessarily mean they are a bad aviator.
Not to worship the guy either, but I'm sure that Fossett accomplished more as an aviator than you or I could ever hope to accomplish. The bottom line is that shit happens, even if you're a great aviator, you are not invincible. You can be the most cautious man in the air, but that doesn't always stop the odds from catching up to you eventually.

[DaveGF4G]

He was flying in NEVADA people... you know what that terrain is like?...not over some gently rolling terrain with tons of airports or lots of people like Missouri or something. HE SHOULD HAVE FILED A FLIGHT PLAN based on the the terrain ALONE.... but REALLY you should ALWAYS file a flight plan, and in my book his professionalism is WAY diminished. The mere fact they haven't FOUND HIM YET says out loud HE FAILED TO FILE A FLIGHT PLAN...... In my book he thought WAY too much of his ability and this is ALWAYS.... ALWAYS a FINAL DEATH KNELL to pilots. I will bet he died because we couldn't find him..... because he FAILED TO FILE A FLIGHT PLAN

[Tanner_J]

He was also going to scout salt flats to break his next record. KEYWORD IS FLAT. He is one of the greatest aviators ever. You do the things he has and then you can talk crap. Flight plan or not, it doesn't matter. I fly all the time without filing a flight plan...and I'm in school. So filing one or not does not mean you're not a professional aviator.

Did you ever meet Steve? He was one of the nicest, most down to earth people there was. He knew his limits. I met him pretty much right before he died and he and his wife were awesome people. For you to sit here and say crap when he's gone is low. What did he ever do to you to make you not like him? He didn't file a flight plan. It was his risk and he took it. Something happened and now he is gone. He paid the price. It does no good for you to be here saying how unprofessional he was.

[JordanD]

He was flying in NEVADA people... you know what that terrain is like?...not over some gently rolling terrain with tons of airports or lots of people like Missouri or something. HE SHOULD HAVE FILED A FLIGHT PLAN and in my book his professionalism is WAY diminished. The mere fact they haven't FOUND HIM YET says out loud HE FAILED TO FILE A FLIGHT PLAN...... In my book he thought WAY too much of his ability and this is ALWAYS.... ALWAYS a FINAL DEATH KNELL to pilots.
You missed my entire point...

If he was just flying around filing a flightplan would be utterly pointless. What is the route field going to say? "I'm going to fly in circles over by that big lake down yonder, you know which what I'm talking about, then I'm gonna go fly whichever direction I please and fly over a few mountains. I'm sure you know which mountains I'm talking about, there's only like.. 5,000 in this area."


Flightplans really only work for search and rescue if you give them a specific route. So say he said he was going to fly LAS-LAX (an example) they would search along that route.

[DaveGF4G]

Bullshit, in this case he was going from Point A to Point B.... not flying around a water tower..... crap.... his destination was further than 25 miles from his departure (which REQUIRES a flight plan in Canada) and he was flying over extremely hostile terrain.... he was INEPT, he may have survived the crash but IS DEAD NOW because nobody knows where he is.

[screaming_emu]

Bullshit, in this case he was going from Point A to Point B.... not flying around a water tower..... crap.... his destination was further than 25 miles from his departure (which REQUIRES a flight plan in Canada) and he was flying over extremely hostile terrain.... he was INEPT, he may have survived the crash but IS DEAD NOW because nobody knows where he is.

Settle down Beavis. No reason to get your blood pressure up. Watch the language, we have kiddies here.

And in all probability, if he would have filed a flight plan nowadays it would have been lost anyway...stupid lockheed martin :-P

[DaveGF4G]

Sorry for the language.... but what gets me is when good aviators die because they do something stupid. I know you don't die from NOT filing a flight plan..... but what a stupid thing not to do when given the circumstances. I feel he would have been found

[Tanner_J]

Umm where did you read he was going from point a to b? Maybe I missed it somewhere. He was flying from the ranch to survey the salt fields and was coming back.

[Dmmoore]

Sorry for the language.... but what gets me is when good aviators die because they do something stupid. I know you don't die from NOT filing a flight plan..... but what a stupid thing not to do when given the circumstances. I feel he would have been found

Dave, I edited your post to remove the offencive language.

Now as to the need to file a flight plan for a VFR flight. It's not required. However it is suggested and most of us file a flight plan when ever flying cross country. Cross country has different definitions for different parts of the country. I lived in the Los Angeles area for years, I learned to fly there. A local flight is technically any flight more than 25 miles. However I could fly from Brackett Field (Basically at the L.A. County Fair Grounds) to Oxnard (about 100 miles) without leaving a highly populated area. I could be in total wilderness if I flew 10 miles North.

The FBO's were encouraged to have all pilots file a flight plan when ever they planned a flight out of the populated area or to any destination they felt like. They did NOT say don't file a flight plan from Brackett to Long Beach. They left up to the pilot. The flight plan helps locating an aircraft where and when the aircraft may be difficult to locate (read unpopulated areas). We always filed a "COMPANY" flight plan for every flight. The flight plan was part of the aircraft's rental sheet as was the weather briefing.

In Steve's case, filing anything other than a general area flight plan would be impossible. He was not flying from point to point but from point to a general area looking at property. Plenty of people knew where he said he was going. When you file a flight plan and then go somewhere else, whats the difference? In other words, a flight plan wouldn't help.

I've had plans change without the ability to inform anyone about the change. A No radio PA-11 flight from Cordova, Alaska (CDV) to Lake Hood Sea Plane Base at ANC comes to mind. The flight plan was for CDV - ANC-LKH via Portage Pass. However Portage Pass was closed. I diverted almost 100 miles South before finding an opening over the Harding Ice Field. Upon closing my flight plan almost three hours late the FAA FSS operator said; "Thank you."

I'm not saying that Steve shouldn't have filed a flight plan, just that a general area flight plan is not all that much better than telling your wife you intend to be gone about 4 -5 hours and will be somewhere around this point.

[DaveGF4G]

I'm done. FINE...Don't file a flight plan.... it is a sign of a GREAT AVIATOR, whose rotten corpse will most likely never be found

[screaming_emu]

Dave, I edited your post to remove the offencive language.

Now as to the need to file a flight plan for a VFR flight. It's not required. However it is suggested and most of us file a flight plan when ever flying cross country. Cross country has different definitions for different parts of the country. I lived in the Los Angeles area for years, I learned to fly there. A local flight is technically any flight more than 25 miles. However I could fly from Brackett Field (Basically at the L.A. County Fair Grounds) to Oxnard (about 100 miles) without leaving a highly populated area. I could be in total wilderness if I flew 10 miles North.

The FBO's were encouraged to have all pilots file a flight plan when ever they planned a flight out of the populated area or to any destination they felt like. They did NOT say don't file a flight plan from Brackett to Long Beach. They left up to the pilot. The flight plan helps locating an aircraft where and when the aircraft may be difficult to locate (read unpopulated areas). We always filed a "COMPANY" flight plan for every flight. The flight plan was part of the aircraft's rental sheet as was the weather briefing.

In Steve's case, filing anything other than a general area flight plan would be impossible. He was not flying from point to point but from point to a general area looking at property. Plenty of people knew where he said he was going. When you file a flight plan and then go somewhere else, whats the difference? In other words, a flight plan wouldn't help.

I've had plans change without the ability to inform anyone about the change. A No radio PA-11 flight from Cordova, Alaska (CDV) to Lake Hood Sea Plane Base at ANC comes to mind. The flight plan was for CDV - ANC-LKH via Portage Pass. However Portage Pass was closed. I diverted almost 100 miles South before finding an opening over the Harding Ice Field. Upon closing my flight plan almost three hours late the FAA FSS operator said; "Thank you."

I'm not saying that Steve shouldn't have filed a flight plan, just that a general area flight plan is not all that much better than telling your wife you intend to be gone about 4 -5 hours and will be somewhere around this point.

I don't entirely agree with saying that you can't file a flight plan unless you're flying from point A to B. When I was instructing out of BWI we needed to file an ADIZ flight plan for every flight, even if we weren't landing anywhere. Just file it to an intersection or radial/DME.

I do however agree that just because you don't file a flight plan doesn't make you irresponsible. While it probably is a good idea if you're not going to be anywhere near civilization, if people know where you were going, when you're expected back, and how you're getting there, its more or less the same thing. Same kind of logic as to why you don't need an ELT for training flights within 30 miles of your airport (if I remember the reg correctly). If you don't come back, somebody is probably going to notice.

[Tanner_J]

That's because you are required to file an ADIZ flight plan? Correct?

DaveGF4G: What qualifies you to bash Steve Fossett the way you have? Better be a hell of a resume.

[screaming_emu]

That's because you are required to file an ADIZ flight plan? Correct?

DaveGF4G: What qualifies you to bash Steve Fossett the way you have? Better be a hell of a resume.


Yeah, to operate in the ADIZ you have to have an ADIZ flight plan filed, otherwise you get "friends". I have also filed IFR flight plans to radials/DME when we weren't planning on landing elsewhere. Its possible even when not required.

[FlyingPhotog]

Dave, I edited your post to remove the offencive language.


Nice... Edit his post and have a warning sent to me for my post on the WN inspection thread. Thanks Don.

[z740]

This might clear a few things up:
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/blogs/perrinpost/2007/09/fossetts-flight.html

-Chris

[DaveGF4G]

Nothing qualifies me other than he did NOT file a flight plan and he will NEVER be found.... he made a mistake and he is dead

[JordanD]

[QUOTE=DaveGF4G he will NEVER be found[/QUOTE]
If they turned up a number of crash wreckage from over 40 years ago while looking for Fossett, it's a safe bet to say that at some point in the future, be it next year, or 70 years from now, they'll find something.
Not to be a jerk, but it looks to me like can't admit that your judgments of this guys airmanship are baseless.

[DaveGF4G]

Thank you Jordan

[Bok269]

Nothing qualifies me other than he did NOT file a flight plan and he will NEVER be found.... he made a mistake and he is dead
That's like saying I didn't get a lot of sleep the night before a test and I failed. Sure, the first might have affected the second, but it is not necesarily a direct cause of it. There are other factors involved such as the time I spent studying, my knowledge and ability in that subject, the difficulty of the test, etc.

[DaveGF4G]

WTF?.... over

[E-Diddy!]

Nothing qualifies me other than he did NOT file a flight plan and he will NEVER be found.... he made a mistake and he is dead

So I take it you have no flight time then.

[flyboy2548m]

So I take it you have no flight time then.

Well, for the record, having actual flight time is generally a disadvantage on any of the Chris Kilroy Conglomerate Of Forums (R) (TM).

[DaveGF4G]

I have 1205 hours in the F-4 and 300 hours in the F-105

[flyboy2548m]

I have 1205 hours in the F-4 and 300 hours in the F-105

Man, that's way too much jet time to be taken seriously around here.

[3WE]

Man, that's way too much jet time to be taken seriously around here.So if someone had significant jet time, they would understand that Steve Fosset was an expeletive idiot and an unprofessional pilot and therefore dead and not found?

[DaveGF4G]

Yep

[3WE]

He was flying in NEVADA people... you know what that terrain is like?...not over some gently rolling terrain with tons of airports or lots of people like Missouri or something. HE SHOULD HAVE FILED A FLIGHT PLAN based on the the terrain ALONE.... but REALLY you should ALWAYS file a flight plan, and in my book his professionalism is WAY diminished. The mere fact they haven't FOUND HIM YET says out loud HE FAILED TO FILE A FLIGHT PLAN...... In my book he thought WAY too much of his ability and this is ALWAYS.... ALWAYS a FINAL DEATH KNELL to pilots. I will bet he died because we couldn't find him..... because he FAILED TO FILE A FLIGHT PLANI recall someone on a flight plan who witnesses saw hit a power line over the Mississippi river in Missouri. The pilot was never recovered.

It has been stated that a likely direction of flight took Fossett over a very deep lake. Hmmm, is not being found because of flight plans or because of crashing in water?

Dave- I see you have lots of Military time....Well, I am glad that the armed services restricts the hell out of what you do with multi-million dollar fighter jets that I (and a whole lot of other taxpayers) pay for. If you have to have a flight plan to go kick the tires or wipe bugs off the canopy, so be it!

I would assume that you flew F4's and F105's for the rights of US citizens to fly light aircraft without flying flight plans. I would assume thanks are in order for that so THANK YOU

But you are over the edge here on Fossett going flying without a flight plan. So you will never fly without a flight plan. I respect that. But a lot of good pilots do fly on occasion without a flight plan and I repect them and Fossett.

[DaveGF4G]

Don't take me seriously then.... but you are wrong

[DaveGF4G]

and a lot of good pilots will die

[E-Diddy!]

I have 1205 hours in the F-4 and 300 hours in the F-105

Ahh so then thats what experienced pilots do? They question the skill of those who came before them, accomplishing things they could only dream, and ultimately give their lives to their pursuits? Is that how you treated your buddies who got shot down in Nam fighter ace? Come back to base and start talking shit when your wingman didn't show up? Cause thats about what you're doing right now. Show some respect and let it go.

[3WE]

and a lot of good pilots will dieCoffin corner:

Throttle up, you break up and die.
Throttle back, you break up and die.
Don't file a flight plan, you break up and die.

Get real man. A flight plan is a courtesy to help the rescuers recover your body after you are dead. We can genuinely trash Fosset for making a lot of work for the recovery teams.

Search activities don't begin until you are 45 min overdue and most avgas, jet fuel and aircraft ulpostery I've been around burns somewhat faster than that!

The odds of a flight plan saving a life are quite small.

[Bok269]

Am I the only one thinking this guy is a class A troll?

[DaveGF4G]

Coffin corner:

Throttle up, you break up and die.
Throttle back, you break up and die.
Don't file a flight plan, you break up and die.

Get real man. A flight plan is a courtesy to help the rescuers recover your body after you are dead. We can genuinely trash Fosset for making a lot of work for the recovery teams.

Search activities don't begin until you are 45 min overdue and most avgas, jet fuel and aircraft ulpostery I've been around burns somewhat faster than that!

The odds of a flight plan saving a life are quite small.

don't file then......

[JordanD]

A flight plan is a courtesy to help the rescuers recover your body after you are dead.
Unless you're just saying that's your opinion of what a flightplan is, you're not completely right. 45 minutes overdue to begin searching is pretty damn quick when you consider there's plenty of things that could delay your arrival by 45 minutes. This isn't Hollywood. Not everything catches fire and explodes after it crashes. How many light aircraft crashes have you seen where the wreckage was nothing more than mangled metal, no fire, no charred remains? Plenty.

[3WE]

Unless you're just saying that's your opinion of what a flightplan is, you're not completely right. 45 minutes overdue to begin searching is pretty damn quick when you consider there's plenty of things that could delay your arrival by 45 minutes. This isn't Hollywood. Not everything catches fire and explodes after it crashes. How many light aircraft crashes have you seen where the wreckage was nothing more than mangled metal, no fire, no charred remains? Plenty.Careful Jordan. While I exagerated a little on what you quoted (and should have said, "ususally"), go back and re-read my last sentence: "The odds of a flight plan saving a life are quite small"

I think we are probably more in agreement than disagreement, but for the sake of debate, please list some instances of a flight plan saving lives when a plane was reduced to "nothing more than mangled metal".

And if there's more than 5% difference in survival on flight plan vs no flight plan crashes where the plane was "nothing more than mangled metal", then I'll mail you a beer. ;-)

Certainly there are a rescues to the credit of flight plans and conversely any preventable death is an even worse tragedy. All that being said, percentage-wise, it's a small difference.

One final thing- the search helicopters are not scrambled at 45 min. Initial search activities are done with radios and telephones.

[DaveGF4G]

There's no need to file a flight plan.... "tell all the people that you see .... follow me, follow me down"..... James Morisson

[DaveGF4G]

This guy was an accident waiting to happen and he is now DEAD

[screaming_emu]

Don't take me seriously then....

Not really having a problem with that part.

[Tanner_J]

For one, I don't believe his flight hours. Secondly, if he was in the military he didn't always file flight plans so he's full of crap...

So...why was he banned.

[DAL767-400ER]

So...why was he banned.
Combination of multiple comments, including using the N-word on this forum and sending me a nice PM with the meaningful sentence "*edit* you *edit*hole dip*edit*", in all caps lock of course.

[Airfoilsguy]

Anyone who would claim that a person is a poor pilot based solely on the fact that the pilot in question didn't file a flight plan, has never piloted an aircraft, and is probably just a 13 year old pretending to be a pilot.

[3WE]

Anyone who would claim that a person is a poor pilot based solely on the fact that the pilot in question didn't file a flight plan, has never piloted an aircraft, and is probably just a 13 year old pretending to be a pilot.Maybe he is a vietnam vet????...a lot of those guys are screwed up- it is tough to fight ANY war, war is hell, and the Vietnam guys came home from that mess without much reassurance that they had "done the right thing" and without a lot of "welcoming", and that sure didn't help with thier emotional state. So I feel for the guy- even though he was over the edge and off-base on his comments.

Or maybe he's a 13-YO "know it all"...

[E-Diddy!]

I'm guessing 13-something know it all.

[3WE]

I'm guessing 13-something know it all. :pIs this what you'd expect from a 13 YO, or a 1960's product::p
.... "tell all the people that you see .... follow me, follow me down"..... James Morisson??:grin: ?

[Geebee]

Not being a pilot and new here so don't shoot me down (yet ;-) ).
But common sense tells me that someone with Fosset's experience and age, would not crash without being able sending out a distress signal, unless....
My guess is that, even with the frequent medical check-ups Fosset might have had, he is likely to be more prone to a medical event inflight only due to his age. A stroke or MI, when sudden and severe could cause him to lose control without even having the capability to launch a distress signal or mayday.
All IMHO....

[bob12312357]

Not being a pilot and new here so don't shoot me down (yet ;-) ).
But common sense tells me that someone with Fosset's experience and age, would not crash without being able sending out a distress signal, unless....
My guess is that, even with the frequent medical check-ups Fosset might have had, he is likely to be more prone to a medical event inflight only due to his age. A stroke or MI, when sudden and severe could cause him to lose control without even having the capability to launch a distress signal or mayday.
All IMHO....
Yes,your not a pilot.;)
It's not like the movies where the airliner is at 40k feet and loses an engine and has enough time for the pilots to do their taxes and everything is taking place in a slow relaxed manner. First rule of an emergency situation is "FLY THE AIRCRAFT" No point in getting out that SOS so they can find ur dead body,when if you concentrated on putting the plane down first you would have lived. That and the fact the radio is a hand deal, most aircraft the key mike button is the left thumb button,that hand must remain on the yoke instead of attempting to get the engine restarted by turning the key,making sure primer is locked,etc. The right hand is needed to tune the radio then select the frequency. That hand can be used to feel for fuel valve position,adjusting mixture/throttle,deploying flaps to slow impact speed enhancing chance for survival,triming aircraft for best glide speed,switching fuel pumps or tanks,etc. To first realize ur going down,to tune the radio,and getting the call off is gonna take a good 10 seconds. If ur flying at 500-2,000 feet agl where he most likely was that is 10 seconds of you not looking for a suitable ditching site,10 seconds of you not diagnosing the problem,and a good chance that you'll just be enabling the rescuers to find a shattered corpse. FAA FAR's,distress calls,laws,all take a back seat to "FLY THE PLANE FIRST TO ENSURE SAFE FLIGHT". Not tryin to be a dik,just tryin to explain a lil. I agree with you,it's a very likely theory that Fosset crashed after being incapacitated. I met him in D.C. when I was a wee lil kiddie at the Smithsonian and he a hell of a guy. R.I.P

[Geebee]

Point taken and I don't mind a little education. I am more worried about those who never take that opportunity :smilewin:
My point was indeed what you highlighted at the end of your message. That something happened to him, not his plane.
Cheers

[FlyingPhotog]

For the love of God someone close this thread! It has gone waaay off topic. :topicoff:

[ATFS_Crash]

As I have said before I think the amount of time and money and media attention that was dedicated to searching for Steve Fossett was ridiculous. Do you think that such a monumental search would be made for less famous people like most of us? I think not/

Remember all the cowboys claiming they could find him but as soon as the official search was called off and the media went home the reward offers dried up and all the cowboys went home.

I feel that the cowboys and self appointed experts were just trying to exploit tragedy. I feel that the media and the cowboys interfered with the rescue efforts. It seems that everyone that was criticizing the official search effort and begging to do it themselves; had an immediate change of heart as soon as the official search was canceled. I feel that the media, the cowboys and the widow was just parasitizing off of the official investigation.

As I suspected hunters or hikers would likely find him eventually. Though if a body isn’t found I still would entertain the remote idea that Steve is sipping martinis on some beach, writing a book on his adventures, and consorting with shady women.

There still isn’t a corpse or aircraft found yet but with these remnants (if genuine) it will likely narrow the search area enough that a small-scale search could probably find the aircraft and corpse in the next few days.

California hikers find Steve Fossett belongings

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081001/us_nm/us_fossett_2

[Rolling-Thunder]

CNN is now reporting that the wreckage of his aircraft MAY have been found........

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/02/steve.fossett.search/index.html

[Cargo Runner]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7647732.stm

Items found just outside the original search zone and snow moving in for the weekend, will they get there in time??

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45071000/gif/_45071508_fossett3_search_466.gif

[bob12312357]

CNN is now reporting that the wreckage of his aircraft MAY have been found........

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/02/steve.fossett.search/index.html
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10022008/news/nationalnews/rescue_crews_find_wreckage_of_fossetts_p_131829.htm

Damn, and it looks like he survived the crash relatively unscathed judging by the distance of his stuff from the plane and the fact it was neatly placed.:-(

[ATFS_Crash]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10022008/news/nationalnews/rescue_crews_find_wreckage_of_fossetts_p_131829.htm

it looks like he survived the crash relatively unscathed judging by the distance of his stuff from the plane and the fact it was neatly placed.:-(

Who says it looks like he survived the crash and the stuff was neatly placed? I was under the impression that the investigators thought that the items they have found so far were scattered by animals or weather.

[Cargo Runner]

They have confirmed his plane has been found now...

[ATFS_Crash]

Perhaps what you said about him possibly surviving the crash was a sarcasm or hope. The latest reports I’ve heard claimed that searchers have reached the wreckage, and the wreckage suggests that it was a high velocity impact as the plane is pretty much disintegrated and scattered; as supported with photographs. I’ve heard some reports that claim some searchers think they might not find remains because the impact was so significant and that it is likely that animals have scattered and consumed any significant remains.

[Moose135]

MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26976119/) is reporting that Fossett's plane has been found, and human remains were found in the wreckage.

From the story:
Most of the plane's fuselage disintegrated on impact, and the engine was found several hundred feet away at an elevation of 9,700 feet, authorities said.<script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCMSN&AP=1089','300','250');</script><script src="http://a.rad.msn.com/ADSAdClient31.dll?GetSAd=&DPJS=0&PG=NBCMSN&AP=1089" type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"></script><iframe style="display: none;" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N3285.msn/B2343920.162;sz=300x250;ord=1765294833?" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" bordercolor="#000000" scrolling="no" width="300" frameborder="0" height="250"> &lt;script language='JavaScript1.1' SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/N3285.msn/B2343920.162;abr=!ie;sz=300x250;ord=1765294833?"&gt; &lt;/script&gt;</iframe>

"It was a hard-impact crash, and he would've died instantly," said Jeff Page, emergency management coordinator for Lyon County, Nev., who assisted the search. Guess he should have filed a flight plan :-P

[Cargo Runner]

Well this is an outcome, as Branson said it bring closure to this tragic event for his family and friends.RIP Steve Fossett :( man of great achievements and ambitions with absolutely no boundaries.

[Crunk415balla]

Very sad, but inevitible.:sad:

RIP