Thu, Jul 09, 2009
Steve's Loss Was Due To 'An Encounter With Downdrafts'
The NTSB has released its final report on the aviation accident
that claimed the life of Steve Fossett.
The Board determined that the aircraft, a Bellanca 8KCAB-180
(N240R) struck mountainous terrain near Mammoth Lakes, California
following an inadvertent encounter with downdrafts that exceeded
the climb capability of the airplane. Contributing to the accident
were the downdrafts, high density altitude, and mountainous
terrain.
On September 3, 2007, Mr. Fossett, the only person aboard,
departed Flying M Ranch, a private airport near Yerington, Nevada
on a local, personal flight and failed to return. A month-long
search by the Civil Air Patrol, state and county authorities, and
friends of the accident pilot failed to locate the aircraft.
On October 7, 2008, a hiker found some of the pilot's personal
effects. "Once these items were found, the Safety Board launched a
team to conduct the on-scene phase of the investigation," said NTSB
Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker.
An aerial search located the airplane wreckage about 0.5 miles
from the pilot's personal effects, at an elevation of approximately
10,000 feet.
On the day of the accident, no emergency radio transmissions were
received from the pilot, nor were any emergency locator transmitter
signals received.
After the wreckage was discovered, a review of radar data from
September 2007 revealed a track that ended about 1 mile northwest
of the accident site.
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