View Full Version : Confirmed Fossett's plane found..
XabbaRus
10-02-08, 09:43 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7647732.stm
SteamWake
10-02-08, 10:49 AM
Its kind of stunning really, after thousands of people, hundreds of man hours spent searching in the early hours only now it is found. By some 'hiker' that blunders onto some papers, the very next day the wreckage is found.
Im not one for conspiricy theroys but personally I wont believe he is dead untill his remains are found and DNA confirmed. Even then Ill have some doubt.
Im not one for conspiricy theroys but personally I wont believe he is dead untill his remains are found and DNA confirmed. Even then Ill have some doubt.
Well, BBC says..
A ground team later confirmed the identity of the plane, which seemed to have struck the mountain head-on, Mr Anderson said.
He added: "The crash looked so severe I doubt if someone would have walked away from it"
Most of the fuselage had disintegrated, with engine parts scattered several hundred feet away.
I think that sort of settles the idea that he might be alive... And I don't think that even in the most farfetched case, he would've bailed out with a chute in that sort of terrain.
AVGWarhawk
10-02-08, 11:37 AM
You have to remember also, as nasty as it sounds, the wild animals tend to eat was is left behind. :-? I do not suspect a body will be found.
SteamWake
10-02-08, 12:29 PM
Fawcett was an accomplished aviator with vast resources available to him. This sort of accident could have been faked. A super decathalon when trimmed properly will virtually fly itself for a long long way.
We will probably never know one way or the other. It is probably true he met his demise in the side of a mountain. Im just saying alot of the circumstances were peculiar.
The flight plan, the inability to find the wreckage in spite of intense searching, the outstanding coincidence that the 'papers' found were more or less 'exactly' what needed to be found for a positive ID. The lack of communication from Fawcett immediatly prior to the accident in spite of the 'state of the art' radio stack.
Sure, there's always room for conspiracy theories. The question would be of course "why?"
It'd make a hell of a novel, and sure, life is stranger than fiction sometimes... But I'd just go with probability and say that the more probable explanation is usually the true one.
FIREWALL
10-02-08, 12:36 PM
He sure got declared dead fast. 7 months !!! :roll:
mr chris
10-02-08, 01:05 PM
Well at least his family will have some closure now.
Sad way to go for one of the worlds great adventurers.
SteamWake
10-02-08, 01:06 PM
Sure, there's always room for conspiracy theories. The question would be of course "why?"
Why not? Multi millionaire, with some 'questionable' finincial dealings as of late. Dissapear presumed dead insurance pays off, retire to Buenos Aires with a bundle of cash, no media spotlight, not a care in the world.
Oh ! LOL forgot the most important reason of all...... Taxes :D
FIREWALL
10-02-08, 01:08 PM
To be honest, I didn't know who the he!! he was until I saw the news that he was missing.:-?
Sure, there's always room for conspiracy theories. The question would be of course "why?"
Why not? Multi millionaire, with some 'questionable' finincial dealings as of late. Dissapear presumed dead insurance pays off, retire to Buenos Aires with a bundle of cash, no media spotlight, not a care in the world.
Who knows. In fairness, he seemed too straight edge a guy to me for that...
Whatever the case, I think we can all agree that this is the end of Steve Fossett the billionaire and record-holder.
BBC now reports that body parts have been found in the aircraft... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7649799.stm
Hylander_1314
10-03-08, 06:35 AM
Between the cougars, bears, raccoons, and buzzards, not to mention the bugs, they were lucky to find any remains, especially after a year passed by.
sharkbit
10-03-08, 08:36 AM
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa265/DASH7_2007/247657chJG_w.jpg
Sorry, couldn't resist. :)
Hey those Worth1000 ripped off Gary Larson and the Far Side. :x
Actually a good tribute and a funny cartoon. :lol:
Sadly might have been something like that after all. :nope:
RIP Steve.
Konovalov
10-03-08, 10:31 AM
A sad but to be expected end. At least the family can look to some closure in the future.
Jimbuna
10-03-08, 10:50 AM
Not too sure about the conspiracy theory but at least his family may be able to take some form of closure from it.
sharkbit
10-03-08, 12:06 PM
Hey those Worth1000 ripped off Gary Larson and the Far Side. :x
Actually a good tribute and a funny cartoon. :lol:
Sadly might have been something like that after all. :nope:
RIP Steve.
I think it was a contest-photoshopped entries of Far Side cartoons.
Here's the google link where I found that one:
http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=+site:www.worth1000.com+worth+1000+far+side
Unfortuneately, it sounds like that is exactly what happened. A news report I heard was that it appeared that he hit the mountain at a high rate of speed.
Sad. He was quite the adventurer. :cry:
goldorak
10-03-08, 12:14 PM
Fawcett was an accomplished aviator with vast resources available to him. This sort of accident could have been faked. A super decathalon when trimmed properly will virtually fly itself for a long long way.
We will probably never know one way or the other. It is probably true he met his demise in the side of a mountain. Im just saying alot of the circumstances were peculiar.
The flight plan, the inability to find the wreckage in spite of intense searching, the outstanding coincidence that the 'papers' found were more or less 'exactly' what needed to be found for a positive ID. The lack of communication from Fawcett immediatly prior to the accident in spite of the 'state of the art' radio stack.
When its your time to go, nothing will help you.
He could have had a heart attack and lost control of the airplane.
Game closed.
SteamWake
10-03-08, 12:15 PM
Oh well so much for my conspiricy theory... still... :hmm: :rotfl:
Since the Super Decathalon is such an easy plane to fly, trims well and is quite stable and 'self righting' I feel the most likely scenario is that Fawcett either fell asleep or had a stroke or something the plane slowly drifted off course and wacked into the mountainside.
I find it hard to beleive that Fawcett was un aware of a 10,000 foot mountains location.
Oh... wait... a new conspiricy theory, he was drugged! Yea thats it! It was a hit job.
sharkbit
10-03-08, 12:25 PM
Accident reports are full of "Controlled flight into terrain" causes. Many by experienced pilots.
Mountain flying is dangerous, weather can move in rapidly. Even the best pilots can get complacent and think they can make it.
Throw in a possible mechanical failure with the aircraft or it's avionics and it would not be a good position to be in. A mechanical failure could even be an exhaust leak into the cabin and Fossett being overcome by carbon monoxide.
Lots of possibilities and we will probably not know exactly what happened.
:)
SteamWake
10-03-08, 12:32 PM
Accident reports are full of "Controlled flight into terrain" causes. Many by experienced pilots.
Mountain flying is dangerous, weather can move in rapidly. Even the best pilots can get complacent and think they can make it.
Throw in a possible mechanical failure with the aircraft or it's avionics and it would not be a good position to be in. A mechanical failure could even be an exhaust leak into the cabin and Fossett being overcome by carbon monoxide.
Lots of possibilities and we will probably not know exactly what happened.
:)
I would like to think that Fawcett was above "Even the best pilots" but then again doo doo occurs.
Eh, it's just like the fact that a lot of people who drown are actually experienced swimmers. All it takes is one mistake or overestimation...
Tchocky
10-03-08, 12:35 PM
Didn't notice the location until now.
Beautiful part of the world, got a Save Mono Lake bumper sticker lying around somewhere
sharkbit
10-03-08, 01:52 PM
I would like to think that Fawcett was above "Even the best pilots" but then again doo doo occurs.
I'm curious on what his flight hours are and his ratings.
:)
sunvalleyslim
10-03-08, 02:01 PM
Last news was that they found a human bone at the crash site. they'll do a DNA check and find that it is indeed Fossett.
The hiker found his pilots license and other ID, along with $1,005 dollars nearby. Even the hiker said that it could have been dragged there by animals. I believe they found a jacket or sweatshirt along with the money.............At least the hiker was honest and turned things in. The funny part is, he said he tried to contact the family and family attorneys and got no response, so he went to the police. Why didn't the family contact him or call the police that someone was claiming to have evidence?
RealJambo
10-04-08, 02:20 AM
I read somewhere that his proposed route took him very close to restricted airspace. That said, when somone of his stature takes off alone, and never reaches his destination, all manner of theories are bound to arise.
I agree that at least his family have some kind of closure now. He was quite a guy by all accounts.
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