Steve Fossett's final view - its what sucked him in.

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CharlieTango
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Steve Fossett's final view - its what sucked him in.

Post by CharlieTango »

The time of year is different but this was the view off of his nose 60 seconds before he descended into Minaret Lake. Yesterday when I shot this I was on the lee of the Ritter range, but downwind of some high terrain where Fossett had prevailing winds and was in the lee of these big series of peaks and arrettes.

The lee side turbulence is downright upsetting.

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MrMorden
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Re: Steve Fossett's final view - its what sucked him in.

Post by MrMorden »

Do you have a pic of the crash site you could show us, or mark it on a picture?

Beautiful photography as always, Ed.
Andy Walker
Athens, GA
Sport Pilot ASEL, LSRI
2007 Flight Design CTSW E-LSA
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CharlieTango
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Re: Steve Fossett's final view - its what sucked him in.

Post by CharlieTango »

MrMorden wrote:Do you have a pic of the crash site you could show us, or mark it on a picture?

Beautiful photography as always, Ed.
Funny you should ask :D

The crash site is at Minaret Lake which can be hard to photograph. Here's mine:

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CharlieTango
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Re: Steve Fossett's final view - its what sucked him in.

Post by CharlieTango »

http://thesheetnews.com/2009/10/17/what ... e-fossett/

The end story here is mystery. The reality is that the remains found a mile a way were in bear scat. I wonder if he was still alive when consumed?
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MrMorden
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Re: Steve Fossett's final view - its what sucked him in.

Post by MrMorden »

Thanks Ed.
Andy Walker
Athens, GA
Sport Pilot ASEL, LSRI
2007 Flight Design CTSW E-LSA
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CharlieTango
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Re: Steve Fossett's final view - its what sucked him in.

Post by CharlieTango »

He was flying from right to left and according to a witness unable to penetrate the wind. I think he hit the wall above the spot where the shoreline is a flat line. The door to his cabin remained latched yet his possessions were found in the flat area causing some to assume he made it that far where a helicopter could land.

I figure the bear didn't try the latch but did move the body? to the flat area to feast on. The remains a mile away weren't the result of any predator moving the body but simply the bear walking away with the remains inside of him.

There is so much snow now that If I go down in the Sierra I will need a helicopter to get out. 35' of fresh snow would make walking impossible. On that note I think I will throw some snow shoes in the back of the CTSW.
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