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NTSB Says a Downdraft Killed Steve Fossett

Posted by kdawson on from the windy-up-here dept.

jd writes "The National Transportation Safety Board has now released the text of its examination (full narrative available) into the crash of Steve Fossett's aircraft on Sept 3rd, 2007. It concludes that downdrafts were the likely cause of the crash, dragging the plane into the mountain with such force that, even at full power, it would have been impossible to escape the collision. Pilots experienced in the area report that those winds can rip the wings off aircraft; and Mark Twain remarked that they could roll up a tin house 'like sheet music.' One must wonder why such a skilled aviator was taking a gamble with such hostile conditions, given that he was looking for a flat stretch of land to race cars on, but that is one mystery we shall probably never know the answer to."

8 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. NTSB is wrong by Em+Emalb · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sudden deceleration is what killed him.

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    1. Re:NTSB is wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Pfffft, hardly. He was perfectly still the whole time. It was the earth that flew into him.

  2. Re:One must wonder ... by vertinox · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...how pilots experienced in the area and are still alive know that these downdrafts can rip the wings off an airplane?

    Experienced pilots experienced the phenomena by experiencing the event from a safe distance because they were experienced.

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  3. Re:One must wonder ... by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 5, Funny

    One must wonder ...

    ...how pilots experienced in the area and are still alive know that these downdrafts can rip the wings off an airplane?

    Yes, it's odd. Almost as though they can somehow communicate amongst themselves or even read NTSB reports.

    Yes... this definitely is something we need to understand better.

  4. SO uh, when did Mark Twain have a plane? by tjstork · · Score: 1, Funny

    Pilots experienced in the area report that those winds can rip the wings off aircraft; and Mark Twain remarked that they could roll up a tin house 'like sheet music

    Just thought I'd ask.. me thinks Mark Twain died before the aircraft age.

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    1. Re:SO uh, when did Mark Twain have a plane? by JaneTheIgnorantSlut · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just thought I'd ask.. me thinks Mark Twain died before the aircraft age.

      Reports of his death were greatly exaggerated.

    2. Re:SO uh, when did Mark Twain have a plane? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      That's probably why he commented on a tin house rather than an aircraft.

  5. Re:Can a Slashdot pilot tell us . . . by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 3, Funny

    Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) (sexist assumption noted)

    (illiterate lesbian noted)

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