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Bones Found Near Crash Site Confirmed Fossett's

Posted by kdawson on from the closure-and-rest dept.

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."

9 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. Sad news. by jcr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The mad died doing what he loved, flying a plane. I guess the lesson is that no matter how much experience a pilot has, flying is still a risky business.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    1. Re:Sad news. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      The mad died doing what he loved, flying a plane.

      I don't understand why that's sad.

    2. Re:Sad news. by Konster · · Score: 5, Insightful

      No, he didn't die while flying a plane. He died while crashing a plane.

    3. Re:Sad news. by Konster · · Score: 4, 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.

    4. Re:Sad news. by nmg196 · · Score: 4, 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.

    5. Re:Sad news. by jcr · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well, I remember this crash, but I haven't heard of too many others like it.

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  2. RIP. by apodyopsis · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Sad (but predictable on /.) to see a lot of jokes already, so I'll be first to say commiserations to the family and RIP a pioneer.

    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.

  3. Re:Land speed record? by McWilde · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Possibly, but that certainly wasn't a world record.

    --
    Maybe
  4. Re:most deadly air disaster by Pharmboy · · Score: 1, 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. I think that means he wasn't very "airborne".

    --
    Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!