Steve Fossett Update

On 2008-10-02 12:44:22 -0700, Dave said:

On Oct 2, 3:14*pm, Mxsmanic wrote:
es330td writes:
That wreckage looks brutal. *It took me a while to figure out that
orange and white painted piece of metal was the trailing underside of
a wing.

What could be the cause? *He was presumably a good pilot, and from what
I
understand the weather was clear. *And yet the news says it looks like
the
aircraft hit the mountain head on. *Mechanical failure? *Sudden incap
acitation
of the pilot? *Bad piloting (seems unlikely, with all he had survived
previously)? *Suicide?

Another mystery is why no one witnessed the crash (and resulting
fire). Mammoth Lakes is a small city - and the
surrounding area would have had many people about on a holiday
weekend.

Dave

As already pointed out, the plane crashed in a remote, uninhabited
wilderness. The hiker who discovered the original evidence says he was
far off any trails.

What makes you think there was a fire? The photos of the pilot
certificate and other ID show no damage from flame or smoke. The
wreckage appears corroded, but not burned.

Believe it or not, planes do not always catch fire when they crash, any
more than automobiles explode into flames when the cops shoot out the
fuel tank or the megalomaniac's giant computer causes the volcano to
erupt when it is destroyed. Those things only happen in the movies.

Personally, I am distressed by the cavalier attitude many seem to be
taking here toward Fossett's death. I miss the old guy. He had a family
that loved him and cared about him -- still do. He was also admired by
many, including myself. He generally accomplished more in a month than
most of you clowns will ever manage to do with your whole lives. The
cheap shots and petty remarks are wholly uncalled for.

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor