Wreckage spotted in renewed search for Fossett

[Canuckistanian]

Source: CBC News

Search teams combing a rugged part of eastern California for any sign of Steve Fossett, the adventurer who vanished on a solo flight more than a year ago, have spotted what appears to be wreckage, authorities said.

Erica Stuart, spokeswoman for the Madera County sheriff's office, would not reveal the exact location of the reported aerial sighting, which she said was called in around sunset Wednesday.

Searchers had been combing a 16-kilometre radius around the spot where a hiker had found what appeared to be a pilot's licence and other items belonging to Fossett earlier in the week.

A ground team was en route to the site Wednesday night, and authorities would be able to confirm there is actual wreckage and whether it belongs to Fossett on Thursday morning, Stuart said.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/10/02/fossett-search.html

[Barack_America]

1. Sad.

I really feel for his wife. They seemed to have a really loving relationship. Though I'm sure it would be nice for her to finally know what happened and have closure.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Teevee nooz is reporting they have found some wreckage and that the NTSB is on their way

MSNBC is reporting this

[kwassa]

3. I've backpacked up in that area

It is a beautiful area, up behind Mammoth Lakes. I did a three-day trip up there years ago. Up around 10,000 feet or so.

[DemoTex]

4. Fossett's plane found; no human remains (CNN.com)

My brother happened upon a months-old crash site while deer hunting in middle Georgia. It was an Atlanta medical doctor and his family who crashed while trying to fly from Savannah to Atlanta in his Beechcraft Bonanza in horrible weather (that's why Bonanzas are called Forked-tailed Doctor Killers). The skeletal remains were outside and some distance from the aircraft and had been dismembered by, presumably, animals.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Wreck confirmed as Fossett plane

The wreckage of a plane found near the town of Mammoth Lakes in California does belong to missing US adventurer Steve Fossett, officials say.

A number plate confirmed the plane as the single-engine Bellanca Super Decathlon owned by the 63-year-old millionaire businessman.
...
Authorities said there would now be an extensive search for human remains by about 50 people and five dog teams.

The National Transportation Safety Board will be responsible for examining the wreckage.

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

[Piewhacket]

6. Steve Fossett might have survived the crash?

possibles: ID found, no wreckage.

1) bomb. wreckage (including ID) highly scattered (explosive + fuel explosion). Look for other wreckage nearby.
Forensic for explosive traces.

2) crash. Fossett killed outright or seriously injured and unable to travel (dies of exposure/injuries).
animal drags off body with ID (less than 1/2 mile). Look for remains near ID. Look for wreckage near ID.

3) crash, Fossett survives crash (might be slightly injured) and can travel but later dies of exposure.
Fossett drops ID himself or an animal finds body.

Look at exactly what was found, where, how arranged, what's around it.
Was ID dropped by Fossett as a trail? Is it an intact wallet or pilot pouch with the ID?
I can understand not letting sightseers trample the scene, but the authorities are being
way too cagy on this. Some limited press needs to be on the ground REPORTING.

[cobalt1999]

8. Probably died outright and animals dragged off/ate the remains.

Scavengers probably scattered any personal effects on the body.

[mn9driver]

7. It's Fossett's plane.

Or more accurately, it's the plane he borrowed that day. The Super Decathlon has a service ceiling of 15,800 feet and the day he crashed was unusually warm in the mountains. Using archived weather reports from Mammoth Lakes (available at weatherunderground.com), the density altitude at the crash site was probably over 13,000 feet at the time of the crash. A Super Decathlon would have little ability to climb or maneuver under those conditions.

This is sad, but it wouldn't be the first time this exact thing has happened; a very experienced pilot in a less capable plane than he is used to, getting into a jam that the airplane won't fly out of. The NTSB will know pretty quickly whether or not the engine was at max throttle at impact, which it probably was.

RIP, Mr. Fossett.

[Raine]

9. Sad but at least the family

will finally know exactly what happened to him and not wonder for the rest of their lives.