Angel I concur that tracks likely won't be found but altitude and climate preserves artificial materials (fleece, airplane fabric) really well. The plants grow very slowly so the plane won't be overgrown. (it could if it were in the deep South but not in the Sierra) It might be embedded in snow though.


See my website : http://coloradowreckchasing.com for indications of how well wreckage lasts at altitude.

I don't think it will take long to solve the mystery now.

Just FYI- the card labelled SSA with his name on it is from the Soaring Society of America - a glider organization that recognizes records in gliding. Fossett set several glider records during his career.

They are now reporting that they may have spotted some wreckage from the air. This may bring some answers.

CNN is now report it is indeed the plane of Steve Fosett, but no human remains found yet.

Good graphic, Am_Fear_Liath_Mor.

Sounds like they really believe they've found the wreckage: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4907G820081002

They say the plane went head on into the ground. The fuselage is completely disintegrated. If he was still in the plane when it crashed, there wouldn't be much left of him either. Now, if he parachuted down safely he may be living it up somewhere.

They found the Citabria wreckage, which should provide some closure. Now they're looking for signs of Fossett (bones).

+1 on the finding of the aircraft bringing closure to the family. They said the impact was not survivable but if the plane had crashed another way allowing Steve to get out of it, Steve would have done his best to survive that situation. Steve is a true survivor and the story will probably unfold more based on the impact damages as to how the crash occurred. He was a very strong pioneer to the aviation community and I kinda wished I could have met him years back when he brought his air balloon for helium testing at my old job, I was on nights and he came in on days. I've heard nothing but good things from my friends that met him and that's why I believed if he could have made it out of that crash, he would still be here to day. He was a true great survivor.

Here are some photos of the wreckage: http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/site/content/view/1358/48/

Bear, cougar, coyote, small animals looking for a bite to eat. Why would you be surprised?

It had sounded at first like the shirt and the ID were found in a relatively neat bundle. Assumption based on partial data.

I don't know enough about the aircraft in question, but if the engine was ejected, odds are so was he.