skyjumpsteve 0 #1 September 4, 2007 (CNN) -- World aviation record-holder Steve Fossett is missing and a massive search is under way in western Nevada, a Nevada aviation spokeswoman said Tuesday. Fossett took off from a private air strip known as Flying M Ranch, 30 miles south of Yerington, Nevada, at about 6 p.m. local time Monday, with enough fuel for four to five hours of flight, according to the Civil Air Patrol. Civil Air Patrol Maj. Cynthia S. Ryan said authorities are searching hundreds of miles of rugged terrain in western Nevada. They also are analyzing information from radar intelligence to try to track Fossett. Six search aircraft with three-man crews are taking part in the search, and high winds are posing problems, she said. Aircraft from the Naval Air Station Fallon, in Fallon, Nevada, and the California Highway Patrol also are aiding the search. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2fat2fly 0 #2 September 4, 2007 Bummer-I wonder what exactly he was flying?I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyjumpsteve 0 #3 September 4, 2007 Fox News has a link to a story that says it was a blue and white single engine Citabria Super Decathlon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SARLDO 0 #4 September 4, 2007 If Fallon SAR (I was a crewman there for 3.5 years) is involved, they likey have a beacon going off and/or technnical rescue underway. These things usually don't turn out too well but we can hope for the best possible outcome."Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest" ~Samuel Clemens MB#4300 Dudeist Skydiver #68 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBS 0 #5 September 4, 2007 Report that I read was that it was a Bellanca, whatever that is. It was not his, he was borrowing it from a high profile friend of his and was "just going to fly around" and come back for lunch. He's almost super-human, though, and this is not the first time he has been lost. We're sitting here waiting for updates, just hoping for the best. That circle of friends has lost so many people - it's really, really sad. They're almost like family, and are obviously beside themselves with concern. These people are the ones that push the envelope, though, and advance the world of aviation...just too bad that sometimes it comes at the ultimate price. It's just crazy, some of the stuff that he's done, and the chance that "just going to fly around" is what may have gotten him. -S _____________ I'm not conceited...I'm just realistic about my awesomeness... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #6 September 4, 2007 QuoteIt's just crazy, some of the stuff that he's done, and the chance that "just going to fly around" is what may have gotten him. Ever read "Fate is the Hunter"?quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2fat2fly 0 #7 September 4, 2007 Decathelon is widely used as an aerobatic trainer. A good, solid bird.I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #8 September 4, 2007 Hope everything turns out ok. ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squirrel 0 #9 September 4, 2007 I saw a report that the EPERB on this plane was set to go off with any severe impact or bump....but no signal has been recieved as of yet. Hope he is down safely. But being the guy he is, I would think he would know how to activate the EPERB manually. ________________________________ Where is Darwin when you need him? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #10 September 4, 2007 QuoteI saw a report that the EPERB on this plane was set to go off with any severe impact or bump....but no signal has been recieved as of yet. Hope he is down safely. But being the guy he is, I would think he would know how to activate the EPERB manually. Would be interesting if it actually was an EPERB. I think Decathlons normally come equipped with simpler ELTs. In either case, normally, they'd be mounted in the tail so we have a few of possibilities; a) A horrific accident took place of such devistation that it disabled the ELT. b) The battery was dead. c) No accident has actually taken place. It wouldn't be the first time a person has used an aircraft to make himself "disappear". Although this seems highly unlikely, I know of at least one case of a person of roughly his wealth where that was pretty much the conclusion of all parties involved. If he's not dead, was simply incapacitated by the crash, and somehow the ELT didn't activate, if he can get to it, they all have easy to follow instructions on them. It doesn't take any knowlege whatsoever to operate. On the other hand, I can't imagine anything sucking more than sitting in the pilot's seat of an aircraft, broken but alive, listening to the sounds of the wilderness and not being able to reach the f'in' thing. I can pretty much guarantee you that if he was in good shape and the thing was working, we'd be hearing something.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squirrel 0 #11 September 4, 2007 the report said an emergency transmitter, so i just used the EPERB as an example. i hear ya on the frustration of beeing broken and stranded, there was an episode of "I shouldnt be alive" about an ultralight flyer in africa, going down and breaking both femars. He was rescued after several days in the bush. If I ever start doing long flights alone, I will be getting a emergency locator. I currenly fly only with other ultralights in a group, more fun that way, and "buddies" are a good idea. ________________________________ Where is Darwin when you need him? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBS 0 #12 September 4, 2007 QuoteIf I ever start doing long flights alone, I will be getting a emergency locator. The scary thing is that he wasn't doing a long flight. Sometimes it's the short, routine flights (or hikes, etc) that require the survival gear..._____________ I'm not conceited...I'm just realistic about my awesomeness... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squirrel 0 #13 September 4, 2007 QuoteQuoteIf I ever start doing long flights alone, I will be getting a emergency locator. The scary thing is that he wasn't doing a long flight. Sometimes it's the short, routine flights (or hikes, etc) that require the survival gear... this is true...just last week, my instructor took off with a student..."back in 40 minutes" he says. well, he didnt come back on time...so we went out out after him, two trikes and a a ground search. no problems though, we spotted him becuase we knew where he was head back from. he was just taking longer to get back then usual, (headwind) and had turn down the radio due to static. we all do the check in/check out thing with each other...let someone know when we take off, and when we plan to land, and check in with cell phones and radios. ________________________________ Where is Darwin when you need him? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SARLDO 0 #14 September 5, 2007 Folks, if you fly, file a flight plan. Not a big deal tooling around VFR in suburbia because somebody is going to notice you putting it down off an airfield. Out and around the wilderness, different story. Even with an ELT, in mountainous/tree covered terrrain, you have to be right on top of a downed light aircraft to see it. You may survive the impact but 2 or more days in the hills without survival gear will not be good. File a plan and stick to it please, even if it's on a paper napkin handed to the fuel truck guy as you strap in. This goes for you hikers too. Tell more than one person where your going and stick to the route."Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest" ~Samuel Clemens MB#4300 Dudeist Skydiver #68 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #15 September 5, 2007 QuoteFolks, if you fly, file a flight plan. What for? Ok he files a flight plan. He is reported to be doing a scouting mission. So he doesnt follow the flight plan making it pretty much useless. I have flown many times without a flight plan. Just because you file one doesnt mean help will be on the way the second something foes wrong.If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SARLDO 0 #16 September 5, 2007 QuoteQuoteFolks, if you fly, file a flight plan. What for? Ok he files a flight plan. He is reported to be doing a scouting mission. So he doesnt follow the flight plan making it pretty much useless. I have flown many times without a flight plan. Just because you file one doesnt mean help will be on the way the second something foes wrong. True, but having spent days at a time in the Sierra's looking for small aircraft that have gone down, I can tell you from experience that if we had known at least an approximate route of travel, we might have found some of them to have done some good (other than giving the family the body back). Searching a 400 sq mile area of rough terrain is like looking for a single flea on a dog, a really big, black dog. Don't file, that's fine, but at least point out your planned route of travel with somebody on the ground. Your life may depend on it."Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest" ~Samuel Clemens MB#4300 Dudeist Skydiver #68 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBS 0 #17 September 5, 2007 This is reasonable advice. He didn't know where he was going, though. He was going hunting for dry lake beds where he could work on his land speed record attempt. Is there anything that could be filed in that case? (serious question)_____________ I'm not conceited...I'm just realistic about my awesomeness... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #18 September 5, 2007 QuoteIs there anything that could be filed in that case? (serious question) Not really. What I am worried about is why no ELT has gone off. They dont work for a few reasons. 1. Fire. 2. It's at the bottom of a lake. 3. It was destroyed in the crash. or 4. the damn thing just didnt work for some reason, batt dead or something.If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBS 0 #19 September 5, 2007 Yeah, that is the concern. My understanding is that they are focusing their efforts south of the ranch, so it's possible that he said something to someone about the general area where he may be going._____________ I'm not conceited...I'm just realistic about my awesomeness... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akjmpplt 0 #20 September 5, 2007 QuoteThis is reasonable advice. He didn't know where he was going, though. He was going hunting for dry lake beds where he could work on his land speed record attempt. Is there anything that could be filed in that case? (serious question) Most certainly, I've done that type of flight plan many times. You simply define the area you'll be flying within. If you plan changes and you go out of your original area just give the FSS a call and amend the flight plan. When you go missing they will come looking for you, at least give them a clue where to start...it will save some of my tax money. SmugMug Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SARLDO 0 #21 September 5, 2007 Well, given the topograpgy of that area of Nevada, there are not too many dry lake beds capable of supporting a land speed record (too short). Therefore, I would have to imagine that given Mr. Fossett's intelligence, he would have reviewed some maps and was looking at specific terrain and not really just blindly looking for a dry lake bed. Make sense?"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest" ~Samuel Clemens MB#4300 Dudeist Skydiver #68 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akjmpplt 0 #22 September 5, 2007 QuoteI saw a report that the EPERB on this plane was set to go off with any severe impact or bump....but no signal has been recieved as of yet. Hope he is down safely. But being the guy he is, I would think he would know how to activate the EPERB manually. ELTs are notorious for not working when they should. Quite often the antenna breaks due to corrision (or in the crash), it was left OFF after the last test, it was installed improperly or just didn't work.SmugMug Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #23 September 5, 2007 QuoteQuoteIs there anything that could be filed in that case? (serious question) Not really. What I am worried about is why no ELT has gone off. They dont work for a few reasons. 1. Fire. 2. It's at the bottom of a lake. 3. It was destroyed in the crash. or 4. the damn thing just didnt work for some reason, batt dead or something. According to Branson, Fossett was also wearing a watch that can emit an emergency signal and it hasn't been detected. Of course I can't imagine such a beacon would be all that strong. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #24 September 5, 2007 QuoteFossett was also wearing a watch that can emit an emergency signal Never heard of those before. I wonder how it works. Hell he could have drilled the damn thing in and there is nothing left except a charred chunk of ground. It just isnt looking good for the man.If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBS 0 #25 September 5, 2007 Just speculation, but being only 100 miles away, wouldn't a plane that is burning that much be relatively easy to spot?_____________ I'm not conceited...I'm just realistic about my awesomeness... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
