Steve Fossett missing - Final NTSB Report

[Yacov]

little more info
http://www.bakersfield.com/119/story/228012.html

[sternone]

May he RIP...



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.

Plane who is missing:

[Sedbergh]

Bit early to RIP him. Worrying though

[the bald eagle]

Roberts975

Never flown an "N" reg aircraft is it a standard FAA policy that all "N" reg aircraft have to have an ELT? or are we just assuming he had one with him?
Sorry guys n gals for being a bit naive here

[MichaelJP59]

Hope they find him, without a known destination though there is a massive area of Nevada to search

[Canada Goose]

Never flown an "N" reg aircraft is it a standard FAA policy that all "N" reg aircraft have to have an ELT?

I think it is ! All the a/c I flew in Canada has an ELT. I was surprised on returning to the UK to find the opposite, i.e. most a/c don't have an ELT ! That said, I was once involved in a SAR whilst paradropping as LATCC called to see if I could see a downed a/c as they were picking up an ELT. I tuned into 121.5 - kinda eerie blip blip noise and then I spotted smoke ! Turned out to be a bonfire !! Think the source was eventaully traced to a hangered a/c.

Anyways, back to thread. Hope Steve is found safe and well. Firts thing that went through my mind was if he had crashed surely they would have picked up an ELT, unless of course it was destroyed/malfunctioned.
CG.

[poorwanderingwun]

I don't believe that it's mandatory to carry an ELT on N reg a/c... I've certainly flown without them... one would imagine though that any a/c operating over the sort of terrain that this a/c was operating over would be carrying one... of course if they're not mandatory there's no guarantee that it is regularly maintained.. Let's hope he returns promptly back to friends and family with another good story to relate...

[PBL]

Originally Posted by the bald eagle

is it a standard FAA policy that all "N" reg aircraft have to have an ELT

It is a Federal Aviation Regulation, namely 14 CFR 91.207
(aka FAR 91.207). Findable on the WWW.

PBL

[poorwanderingwun]

OOps...

Apologies for not knowing that and we'll get one ftted.. does the FAA read this ?

[PBL]

Originally Posted by poorwanderingwun

we'll get one ftted.. does the FAA read this ?

Probably not - I'll forward your note for you right away

PBL

[PPRuNe Radar]

A true legend in aviation, let's hope the outcome is positive.

[jammydonut]

Where are the Bonnaville Flats ?

[Saab Dastard]

Let's hope that he is indeed found safe and well.

I can't help saying that anyone who flies a single-engined aircraft without a flight plan over the desert in Utah must be a complete MORMON!

Sorry.

SD

[411A]

In the not too distant past, many business jets and most jet airliners did not require an ELT.
Not anymore.
If one were to be brave enough to fly their light aircraft without a functioning and properly maintained ELT, certification action starts with a suspension of 180 days.
Get caught once again...certificate revocation.
Better have one Bubba, otherwise you is in a heap o' trouble.

A good friend of mine is deputy commander of the Civil Air Patrol in California, and when an ELT is reported, a search can be organized in thirty minutes, maximum forty five.
The CAP is very serious about finding lost/downed aircraft, and will keep looking until it is found.
They are very professional at their work.

My tax dollars at work....productively, for a change.

[NH2390]

Or d) The landing was soft enough not to activate the ELT but the pilot was incapacitated.

[Julian]

Have heard that a large number of the ELTs dont go off on impact and end up having to manually activated.

J.

[green granite]

Presumably an ELT would have a very short range in that sort of terrain, especially if deep down in a narrow valley.

[PBL]

Originally Posted by green granite

Presumably an ELT would have a very short range in that sort of terrain, especially if deep down in a narrow valley.

I know that terrain pretty well, and it's pretty open. You are right that if the ELT can't be picked up, that indicates either that it is/was defective, or that the craft is sitting in some ravine somewhere. It surprises me greatly that he hasn't been found yet, given (as 411A says) the dedication and expertise of the California CAP (who I presume would be called for such a search).

PBL

PBL

[cwatters]

Any possibility of listening for his phone? I know he's out of coverage but perhaps flying a portable base station over the area would be better than using eyes alone?

[silverhawk]

Seems a shame that Uncle Richard puts so much staunch in the ads from Breitling about their watch.
We all know the output is so low that any aircraft looking for a Breitling 121.5 signal needs to be right on top of you to locate you.
Of course if it happens, that's great.
However, not really likely. Survival comes from proper kit and proper training.
Hope Steve's going to be OK
Suspect that Breitling's ads are about to be shown for the smokescreen they really are.
Breitling 121.5 watch is a gimmick bought by the rich and vulnerable.