Just heard this on NPR. Here’s a newspaper report:
Just been on UK Sky News. He’s a bit of a hero here because of his connection with the Virgin balloon.
I just saw the item on CNN. It would be deeply ironic if he ended up dying on a routine pleasure flight after all the things he’s done that were genuinely dangerous.
I hope they find him ok. 
~fig
I’m guessing he flew from the Flying M Ranch, owned by Barron Hilton (Hilton hotels). The terrain around there is quite rugged - desert and substantial mountains. I sure hope they’re able to find him soon.
I hope they find him and that he is alive. I wish his friends and family strength through this.
A slight hijack here, but I wish they would put that much effort into finding other lost or kidnapped people. I have a hard time thinking that one life is more important than another.
I hope that isn’t considered crapping in your thread, it’s just my observation. I do wish for the best outcome for this.
Most of the people the CAP look for aren’t Steve Fossett.
He didn’t file a flight plan, so he may not even know he’s missing.
In April,I was part of a (successful) search for a crashed pilot who was definitely not as prominent as Steve Fossett. The effort put forth by the Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol, police, county rescue folks and many others was impressive.
I’d have to agree. Here in the PNW we have more than a few people who get lost, or in trouble, in the wilderness each year. There is normally tremendous effort to locate them, by athorities, volunteer groups and other gov’t. agencies.
The news coverage is usually local, so other parts of the U.S, probably aren’t aware of the frequency of these searches.
All flights - even routine pleasure flights on a nice day - carry a certain inherent risk. If you forget that, it can become genuinely dangerous. I really hope this isn’t a case of arrogance or overconfidence getting the better of someone.
Around here (Chicago) the CAP will turn out in impressive numbers for any aircraft that’s missing - multiple aircraft and dozens of ground searchers.
From the sound of it, a flight plan was in no way required for his flight. Sounds like it was a rental airplane, and in general you are asked when renting you’re coming back, and if you don’t show up within a reasonable time they start looking for you. The search started pretty soon after he would have been out of fuel. I’ve been delayed in returning a few times, but you know to call the place you rented from and let them know what’s going on.
Even folks with private airplanes who don’t have to be accountable to anyone else will usually tell someone when to expect to either see them or get a phone call. It’s cheap insurance.
No, I think it’s a plane (a Citabria?) that belongs to Barron Hilton, the owner of the airstrip from which he took off. That airport is entirely private - plenty of interesting aircraft, but all privately owned by Mr. Hilton.
It’s a Decathlon, actually - not that there is much visible difference between a Citabria and a Decathlon at 10 feet. Under the cowling and skin, yeah, and maybe on the panel, but they do look very similar.
Just because it’s a privately owned airplane does not mean it isn’t for rent. Not that I know either way, but it’s not Fossett’s airplane. I suppose it could be on loan as a favor, but I see no reason why a privately owned strip couldn’t have an FBO with lease-backs available by the hour. I took my first flying lessons at a privately owned airport while renting the owner’s aircraft. Unless you are more familar with the particular airport in quesiton than I am…? If so, please do clarify.
Yes, I’ve been there. The Flying M Ranch is south of Yerington, NV. It’s absolutely huge - as I recall it, something in excess of 250,000 acres. When you own a spread like that, you certainly need a runway and some aircraft. The runway is paved and perhaps 5500’ long. I recall seeing the Citabria/Decathalon, a nice Waco, a Citation jet, and several sailplanes (no doubt there were other toys I don’t recall). I suspect right now there’s a Citation X, since that’s what Steve Fossett owns and travels with.
The point is that this is Barron Hilton’s private residence. Outsiders are there by invitation only.
Reportedly he was off to investigate the salt flats as part of his preparation for an assault on the land speed record (jet car). If so, that may speak well as to the type of terrain they’ll be searching for him in.
Civil Air Patrol, in case anyone is interested.
The wiki link said they do search and rescue but I didn’t see if it mentioned if they only search for aircraft accidents. Do they also search for missing people not in aircraft accidents?
Thank you for the link and all those who had an answer for me. I learned something new and sadly interesting. It’s sad that a group like that has to exist because bad things happen but it’s cool that they are civilians putting in their time.
Back on topic. I haven’t seen anything today about the search. Anything new?
It’s been a long time since I was in, so I can’t really give a definite answer. Missions are assigned by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. If a pilot files a flight plan, he must close it after landing. If he doesn’t then people start asking questions. For example, the FAA might call the destination airport to see if the missing aircraft landed there and the pilot forgot to close his flight plan. If the aircraft doesn’t turn up (e.g., the pilot phones in and says he landed somewhere else and forgot to close his flight plan, or attempts to find the aircraft have failed)) a search is initiated. Searches will start sooner if someone reports a crash or reports of hearing an aircraft in trouble, a family member or friend reports the pilot missing, or if the ELT activates. If the pilot does not file a flight plan it may be some time before anyone starts looking.
The thing is that there are mechanisms in place to initiate a search for an aircraft. I personally haven’t heard of missions looking for, say, a lost hiker; but that doesn’t mean they don’t do them. I was in SoCal when I was in CAP, and the L.A. County Sheriff has a very good SAR team and a big Sikorsky that has come in very handy pulling people out of the wilderness. Generally no need to get CAP involved. I think that in order for CAP to be called on a non-aviation SAR mission, a state or local authority would have to request them. But as I said, it’s been a long time.
I do remember the CAP helping out after the Loma Prieta earthquake. Those ‘little airplanes’ people are so fond of complaining about landed at those ‘little airports’ that people are always trying to close, bringing in emergency supplies, ground search personnel, and search dogs.
I’m aware of that every time I fly, but I think you’d have to agree that riding the jet stream around the world in a balloon, or doing the same in a composite fuel tank shaped like an airplane with a single turbofan on top, carries a bit more inherent risk than a routine flight in a GA aircraft. You can get killed doing both, but the former is certainly more inherently dangerous.
Yes, the CAP searches for missing people not in aircraft accidents.
The top story on This Site mentions how 3 CAP members were killed while searching for a missing teen (the linked news articles are both now broken) and another article mentions the CAP’s involvement in the Hurricane Katrina rescue/relief effort.
You can read about the CAP here http://www.cap.gov/
Thanks for that. Once I get airborne again I think I’ll look up the local squadron and see about getting my 201 file from California.