Steve Fossett is Missing

Filed in archive Aviation News on September 4, 2007

According to a Yahoo! News story, Steve Fossett, aviation pioneer and the first person to circle the world solo, is missing after searching for locations for another aviation record for land-speed. He took off in a single-engine plane on Monday and was reported missing on Tuesday.

Thirteen aircraft were searching for Fossett in addition to ground crews, said Maj. Cynthia S. Ryan of the Civil Air Patrol. The teams were doing "grid" searches over hundreds of square miles.

"We are committing maximum resources to this effort," she said. "As far as we know now, it is still a rescue mission."

Gusty winds were hampering the search, Ryan said. "If they get too bad we could have to suspend air search operations," she said.

Said Charles: "We understand that Steve Fossett was flying solo and he was carrying four full tanks of gas on board. He was searching for dry and empty lake beds which might be suitable for his plan to break the land speed record."

Ryan described the plane as a Bellanca Citabria Super Decathalon, blue and white with orange stripes and blue sunburst designs on the wings. The two-seat tandem "tail dragger" is capable of aerobatic maneuvers, Ryan said.

FAA records show the registered owner is Flying M Hunting Club Inc. of Yerington, Nev. The agency certified it Aug. 21, 1980.

A telephone message left for a Peggy Fossett in Beaver Creek, Colo., where Steve Fossett lives, was not immediately returned.