Bones Found Near Crash Site Confirmed Fossett's 129
Trip6 writes "Bones found near the wreckage of the plane flown by Steve Fossett when he disappeared last fall have been confirmed to be Fossett's by DNA analysis. The NTSB is still investigating the crash. Fossett may have been searching for a place to break the land speed record, his next quest."
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Sad news. (Score:1, Insightful)
I don't understand why that's sad.
Re:Sad news. (Score:5, Insightful)
No, he didn't die while flying a plane. He died while crashing a plane.
RIP. (Score:5, Insightful)
He died doing what he loved and always challenged his boundaries, I can admire that.
At least the mystery is finally cleared up, the crash investigation can begin.
Re:Sad news. (Score:5, Insightful)
Clear air doesn't always mean safe air. Given his altitude, airframe icing may be a cause.
Nor does experience mean the pilot will always make the best decisions...experience is the best teacher only if you always listen to it, combined with good judgment.
I'd guess a mechanical failure of some sort. Carb door coming off and getting sucked into the manifold, bearing/crank/valve train failure, fuel delivery, whatever. Any number of problems that may arise while perhaps toodling around low and slow become huge almost unmanageable problems very quickly. The transition from aircraft to glider to lawn dart can be astoundingly quick and fully outside the bounds of any pilot to fix.
Re:Sad news. (Score:5, Insightful)
The vast majority of plane crashes occur while the planes are flying.
Very few simply crash while they're sitting in the hangar - so he was still flying when he crashed I expect.
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Land speed record? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:most deadly air disaster (Score:2, Insightful)
one of the planes taking part in the collision was already airborne at the crash point.
And pulling up on the stick made the tail of the plane drag on the runway [wikipedia.org]. I think that means he wasn't very "airborne".