 | Photos of Fosset Wreckage| Modern Discuss Photos of Fosset Wreckage in the Other Eras forums; Steve Fossett | 1944-2007 -- chicagotribune.com
I thought it was above the tree line.. evidently not. Quite an impact to ... |
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10-03-2008, 07:57 PM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Fresno, CA
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Country:  | Photos of Fosset Wreckage
Steve Fossett | 1944-2007 -- chicagotribune.com
I thought it was above the tree line.. evidently not. Quite an impact to dislodge the engine like that.
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10-03-2008, 08:33 PM
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#2 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
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Originally Posted by comiso90  I thought it was above the tree line.. evidently not. Quite an impact to dislodge the engine like that. | Actually that's pretty common. I could tell you by looking at it that it "skipped." Had he went straight in that engine would of had cylinder heads broken off and the crankcase would of crushed like a tin can, although the left bank of cylinders are pretty much sheared at the rocker arm covers. It seems the prop flange is bent and broke but the rest of the engine is pretty much in tact - the round item on the top of the engine is the fuel injection distributor or "spider." Looks like everything firewall forward snapped at the engine mounts.
The round item is a fuel cap.
The etched plate with the aircraft's "N" number on it is found on the top part of the instrument panel.
I also recognize some wing ribs and part of the spar.
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10-03-2008, 08:52 PM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 2,559
Country: | Thanks for the insight.
I guess if there is a good angle, it didnt start a forest fire. The coals say there were flames.
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__________________ “Despite the threat of SAMs and increasing visibility on 31 January 1991, one gunship opted to stay and continue to protect the Marines. A SAM subsequently shot down this AC-130H, call sign Spirit 03. All 14 crew members of Spirit 03 perished." www.NewMediaPerspective.com | |
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10-04-2008, 07:49 AM
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#4 | | Minister of Whoopass
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi
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Country: | Joe, any reason to think he walked out of the wreckage???
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10-04-2008, 08:48 AM
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#5 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
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Originally Posted by lesofprimus Joe, any reason to think he walked out of the wreckage??? | I don't think he did - I bet if they start looking for DNA they'll find blood splatters and small tissue all over the place. That wreck is pretty munched, I doubt any part of him survived in tact.
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10-04-2008, 11:52 AM
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#6 | | the old Sage
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere
Posts: 9,478
Country: | most likely he hit face in to a wall then his craft is scattered into pieces lying into small needled pines and rocks below. Timberline really is not at 10,000 ft as it is above that in this area with thinned out small pines and plenty of basalt/granite mix | |
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10-13-2008, 07:38 PM
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#7 | | Senior Member
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Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ Actually that's pretty common. I could tell you by looking at it that it "skipped." Had he went straight in that engine would of had cylinder heads broken off and the crankcase would of crushed like a tin can, although the left bank of cylinders are pretty much sheared at the rocker arm covers. It seems the prop flange is bent and broke but the rest of the engine is pretty much in tact - the round item on the top of the engine is the fuel injection distributor or "spider." Looks like everything firewall forward snapped at the engine mounts.
The round item is a fuel cap.
The etched plate with the aircraft's "N" number on it is found on the top part of the instrument panel.
I also recognize some wing ribs and part of the spar. | good insight Joe | |
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10-13-2008, 09:03 PM
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#8 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
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Originally Posted by drgondog good insight Joe | Thanks Bill.
My first job in the aviation business was retrieving wrecks while working at a salvage company. Between 1977 and 1979 got to see quite a few of them.
I also have about 5 hours in Decathlons and Citabrias - I worked at a place that had 4 of them, 2 each.
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10-13-2008, 09:14 PM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NIAGARA
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Country:  | Can you tell by the engine or wreck if he was in a climb or not by looking at the pics . IMHO and with respect unless he had no power its pretty hard to have sympathy for hitting ground . Thats why god invented maps and navaids
The Citabtria if I recall my time in it was agile and didn't really lack power and the stall speed isn't all that high
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10-13-2008, 09:51 PM
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#10 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
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Country: | IMO he did go nose first but as stated the first point of impact snapped the motor mounts. The rest of the wreck looks like an accordion. With the damage to the prop flange it seems the prop was moving when he hit.
There's still a lot of funny things about this - he traveled exactly opposite from where he said he was going. Although the area is mountainous with a lot of turbulence, that airplane with one person on board has a lot of power so unless he got himself boxed into a canyon, I can't see why he crashed.
Personally I think he committed suicide.
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10-14-2008, 12:52 PM
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#11 | | Older Than Dirt
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Posts: 5,240
Country: | Can't understand why he would commit suicide. He was quite weathy,
a famous man, and a family man. Why borrow a plane to kill yourself ?
Didn't the plane belong to the owner of the ranch/airport where he took
off from ?? I agree with Joe, it don't add up. And with no "remains" to
perform an autopsy on, nothing will be certain.
Charles
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Last edited by ccheese : 10-14-2008 at 01:54 PM.
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10-14-2008, 01:15 PM
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#12 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
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Country: | Although quite wealthy, he was heavily in debt.
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10-14-2008, 01:56 PM
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#13 | | Older Than Dirt
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
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Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ Although quite wealthy, he was heavily in debt. |
Attach that to a big insurance policy and you have a reason....
Charles
__________________ I can only please one person per day.
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10-14-2008, 02:00 PM
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#14 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
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Country: | I did hear on one report that DNA was found at the crash site. As stated earlier, I doubt there would of been little left of him the way he hit the mountain.
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10-14-2008, 02:13 PM
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#15 | | the old Sage
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere
Posts: 9,478
Country: | attachment to total depression and loss if will to live.............. thats real great for his poor wife in fact if true, pretty darn danged selfish | |
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