Steve Fossett missing - Final NTSB Report
niknak
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The SKY News website is reporting that two teams are to resume the search on foot, concentrating on a smaller area although I don't have the details of that area or their resources.
This must be the ultimate "needle in a haystack" search & I don't see what else they can do after this if it reveals nothing, but good luck to them and his family anyway.
This must be the ultimate "needle in a haystack" search & I don't see what else they can do after this if it reveals nothing, but good luck to them and his family anyway.
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One news source is reporting aircraft wreckage in the area. Closure for the family if true....
Teletext National News - Fossett 'wreckage' find
Teletext National News - Fossett 'wreckage' find
Last edited by aviate1138; 2nd Oct 2008 at 06:14. Reason: typo
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Also from the BBC ....
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Fossett searchers 'spot wreckage'
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Fossett searchers 'spot wreckage'
Red On, Green On
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A sad end but at least closure for his wife and family after 13 long months.
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Don't know the area (obviously), but surpising that a square search wasn't done quickly just to check the immediate vicinity.
approximately 440 yards from where the personal belongings were found
One news source is reporting aircraft wreckage in the area
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LA Times reporting that they have found a bone fragment so DNA testing should confirm one way or the other. Hopefully Steve died instantly in the crash.
It seems that the location is outside the area of the intensive search box. Although people have bemoaned the fact that Fossett set off without leaving details or a flight plan, surely that was part of the pleasure for him of just casually jumping in the aircraft and flying wherever he felt like in that beautiful wilderness area. He paid the price but surely we can all understand why he would do it. I certainly do when most of my flying here in England is constrained inside regulated airspace boxes
It seems that the location is outside the area of the intensive search box. Although people have bemoaned the fact that Fossett set off without leaving details or a flight plan, surely that was part of the pleasure for him of just casually jumping in the aircraft and flying wherever he felt like in that beautiful wilderness area. He paid the price but surely we can all understand why he would do it. I certainly do when most of my flying here in England is constrained inside regulated airspace boxes
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Steve Fosset missing
Surely someone as experienced as Steve Fossett did not fall victim to a stuffed cloud, Most other things except for a major structural failure would have given time for a mayday.
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He may have been out of VHF contact. He was certainly out of radar contact.
Also if heading for a mountain (which is not normally something that gradually creeps up on you) you aren't going to be making radio calls.
I assume he was an instrument capable pilot - was he? If so, this is a mystery.
Also if heading for a mountain (which is not normally something that gradually creeps up on you) you aren't going to be making radio calls.
I assume he was an instrument capable pilot - was he? If so, this is a mystery.
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Steve Fosset missing
Surely someone as experienced as Steve Fossett did not fall victim to a stuffed cloud, Most other things except for a major structural failure would have given time for a mayday.
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On the otherhand, the terrain at the crash site has a very sharp change in pitch (roughly 2:15 on the way and then 3:1 at the crash site), he would have had pretty limited climb performance at 11000 feet. It seems pretty likely he thought he was going to clear the ridge and then couldn't maneuver out of the crescent.
In the US you need an IR to fly above FL180, which he did on his round the world trip. (There are glider pilots who have an IR just so they can do this).
The valley he was in is quite wide, I've flown through it and it doesn't seem like a canyon. I measured it on Google Earth, there is plenty of room to turn especially in a Decathlon - I've practised canyon turns in one and it is amazing how little space you need. It's hard to see how he could have flown straight into a mountain like that unless he was in cloud.
It's all very strange.
n5296s
The valley he was in is quite wide, I've flown through it and it doesn't seem like a canyon. I measured it on Google Earth, there is plenty of room to turn especially in a Decathlon - I've practised canyon turns in one and it is amazing how little space you need. It's hard to see how he could have flown straight into a mountain like that unless he was in cloud.
It's all very strange.
n5296s
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Incapacitated at the controls
Is it not possible that Steve Fossett may have been incapacitated due to a sudden illness and was incapable of flying his aircraft ?
This seems a much more likely set of events than people questioning the mans flying ability .
I find the probability that the guy has had a heart attack or maybe stroke or seizure very high .
This would go some way to explaining the mystery as to how he could fly the aircraft into a mountainside .
After all Mr Fossett was in his 60's and could quite easily have an undiagnosed medical condition.
My friend ( just turned 50 ) seemed in perfectly good health and had recently passed all his medicals yet he had a massive heart attack just 6 hours after arriving
home from a flight to Malaga and back ( As Captain ).
There was absolutly no indication that my friend was in any way ill or suffering from heart problems . Thanfully he is alive and well but retired . Although we always wonder what could have happened had he been flying and become incapacitated .
I feel very sorry for all concerned but i bet the Fossett family are actually relieved to finally find out what happened to Their Steve .
The conspiracy theory will be know more and those that started it are looking rather stupid now .
R.I.P
This seems a much more likely set of events than people questioning the mans flying ability .
I find the probability that the guy has had a heart attack or maybe stroke or seizure very high .
This would go some way to explaining the mystery as to how he could fly the aircraft into a mountainside .
After all Mr Fossett was in his 60's and could quite easily have an undiagnosed medical condition.
My friend ( just turned 50 ) seemed in perfectly good health and had recently passed all his medicals yet he had a massive heart attack just 6 hours after arriving
home from a flight to Malaga and back ( As Captain ).
There was absolutly no indication that my friend was in any way ill or suffering from heart problems . Thanfully he is alive and well but retired . Although we always wonder what could have happened had he been flying and become incapacitated .
I feel very sorry for all concerned but i bet the Fossett family are actually relieved to finally find out what happened to Their Steve .
The conspiracy theory will be know more and those that started it are looking rather stupid now .
R.I.P
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Agree, a couple of things don't quite gel here. I guess we can discount any doubts about SF's flying abilities. Also, a man of his experience wouldn't have got caught out in a mountain valley.
What intrigues me are two things:
1) if indeed he was looking for a large, flat area to break the land speed record, the Mammoth Lakes area isn't exactly the place to go looking
2) apparently the a/c flew straight into the mountain. Straight. I find it very hard to believe that a pilot of SF's experience would approach a ridge head-on.
All very weird indeed
What intrigues me are two things:
1) if indeed he was looking for a large, flat area to break the land speed record, the Mammoth Lakes area isn't exactly the place to go looking
2) apparently the a/c flew straight into the mountain. Straight. I find it very hard to believe that a pilot of SF's experience would approach a ridge head-on.
All very weird indeed
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dicksorchard,
Quite possible...
But there seems to be little point in speculating about that, especially since it happened over a year ago.
Let's give the NTSB time to examine the wreck site, and see if they can come to any conclusion as to "probable cause".
Anything else is now little more than sensationalism.
CJ
Quite possible...
But there seems to be little point in speculating about that, especially since it happened over a year ago.
Let's give the NTSB time to examine the wreck site, and see if they can come to any conclusion as to "probable cause".
Anything else is now little more than sensationalism.
CJ
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Surely if you are looking for a large flat area, you................ ............... ................ get a MAP!!!
You don't get into a plane and set off into a load of terrain.
Did he actually say to somebody he was off to look for a large flat area? Is that statement verifiable? It sounds completely bonkers. The USA is so well mapped. Even google earth gives you hi-res pictures for most of it.
You don't get into a plane and set off into a load of terrain.
Did he actually say to somebody he was off to look for a large flat area? Is that statement verifiable? It sounds completely bonkers. The USA is so well mapped. Even google earth gives you hi-res pictures for most of it.
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This time last year the FAI conference in Rhodes was to have presented Steve with one of the top awards. It was a sad occasion with the news we had then.
Steve was an adventurer par excellence in many types of aircraft. I believe he was an ATP as well as PPL etc. More particularly, in view of the location of the accident in relation to his experience, he was a world record breaking glider pilot. Not in the flatlands but in the Alps of New Zealand and the Andes of Chile / Argentina. He knew the mountains, wave, turbulence and the severe dangers. In my humble view it is highly unlikely he would make the sort of mistake to fly straight into a mountain unless he was either disorientated by sudden cloud formation, or I would hazard a guess, incapacitated. It happens to others.
Steve was an inspiration to those who seek adventure in the skies. I have found some of the wilder speculation here and elsewhere quite appalling.
May he rest in peace in the knowledge he got out of life the maximum, which most of us aviators can only dream of most of the time. Life is not a dress rehearsal. Enjoy!
Steve was an adventurer par excellence in many types of aircraft. I believe he was an ATP as well as PPL etc. More particularly, in view of the location of the accident in relation to his experience, he was a world record breaking glider pilot. Not in the flatlands but in the Alps of New Zealand and the Andes of Chile / Argentina. He knew the mountains, wave, turbulence and the severe dangers. In my humble view it is highly unlikely he would make the sort of mistake to fly straight into a mountain unless he was either disorientated by sudden cloud formation, or I would hazard a guess, incapacitated. It happens to others.
Steve was an inspiration to those who seek adventure in the skies. I have found some of the wilder speculation here and elsewhere quite appalling.
May he rest in peace in the knowledge he got out of life the maximum, which most of us aviators can only dream of most of the time. Life is not a dress rehearsal. Enjoy!
Well said David. We should all rejoice in the great things he did and not degrade his great name with some of the silly and unnecessary speculation that appears here. If I can break even one of his 121 records I would be so proud.
b b
b b
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Like allways there will be contributory factors. The questions is just if we will ever find out the truth given the time since the accident and the lack of human remains.
He would have known of (and undoubtedly practiced) hammerhead turns to get out of the tightest of spots, and have known about the risks of going IFR in that region if there was cloud at all.
So my bet is on either physical incapacitation or a mechanical major malfunction such as stuck elevators/ailerons etc both PRIOR to the impact.
We lost a great pilot, but he died whilst practicing what he loved..... RIP
He would have known of (and undoubtedly practiced) hammerhead turns to get out of the tightest of spots, and have known about the risks of going IFR in that region if there was cloud at all.
So my bet is on either physical incapacitation or a mechanical major malfunction such as stuck elevators/ailerons etc both PRIOR to the impact.
We lost a great pilot, but he died whilst practicing what he loved..... RIP