Search for Aviator Steve Fossett Enters Day 7

Search area now up to 17,000 square miles.

Photo courtesy: youngeagles.org

(MINDEN, Nevada) - Frustrated, but not undaunted, search crews from the Nevada and California Wings of the all-volunteer Civil Air Patrol, the Nevada Army and Air National Guard, in addition to ground crews from Nevada and California county sheriff's departments have converged for a seventh day of intensive search efforts.

It is believed that famed aviator Steve Fossett could have gone anywhere in the nearly 17,000 square mile search area during his flight, originating Monday, Sept. 3rd, from the Flying M Ranch near Yerington, Nev. Ground reports during his takeoff said he flew southbound from the ranch.

Morale at the Minden, Nevada airport incident command post, where the search efforts are being coordinated remains high, in no small part based on successful outcomes in past searches that may have seemed hopeless as days stretched on.

Maximum resources from multiple agencies and jurisdictions, under a Unified Command structure are still being committed to the intensive effort.

Yesterday, they included: seven single engine Cessna 182 and two Cessna 206 aircraft from the Nevada Wing Civil Air Patrol, 13 of the same type aircraft, operating out of Bishop, California, from the California Wing Civil Air Patrol, joined by a G8 AirVan equipped with ARCHER imaging technology from the Utah Wing Civil Air Patrol, two UH-58 and two Blackhawk helicopters from the Nevada Army National Guard, one Hughes 500 helicopter, a sonar-equipped boat searching the waters of Walker Lake from Washoe County Search and Rescue.

More than 200 ground search personnel have been combing the rugged hills and four wheel drive tracks and trails in the search area, thanks to law enforcement from Douglas, Inyo and Mono counties in California, in addition to teams from Lyon and Mineral counties in Nevada.

Also donating time and resources in Silver State Helicopters of Las Vegas.

Additional figures from yesterdays’ efforts in Minden included: approximately 24 sorties flown, 23.5 hours spent in grid search areas and 34 personnel, each averaging a 10 duty period, for 340 man hours.

An aerial search of more than half of the 10,000 square mile search area has been completed. More than 50 flight hours were flown in yesterday’s effort.

Fossetts’ aircraft, the Citabria Super Decathalon, built in 1980 and owned by the Flying M Hunting Club, Inc., 10 miles south of Yerington, Nevada, is a well-known aircraft with a long history.

It is a tandem two seat aircraft capable of aerobatic maneuvers. It was noted by members of Fossett’s staff that he was not fond of aerobatics and would not have been likely to use the aircraft in that manner.

As the search progresses, emphasis has been taken off of the playas and dry lakebeds that Fossett was earlier reported to have been scouting in preparation for a land speed record attempt.

The focus in now on going back to get a better look at search grids that, on Monday with high winds and turbulence, prevented searchers from getting a close look.

Search planners also want to go back over some of the most likely areas at differing times of day in order to get differently lit views of terrain that could be hiding the target.

Saturday’s efforts will include 10 aircraft from NVWGCAP in Minden, utilizing eight CE-182s and two CE-206s with support from the Nevada Army National Guard and two private Hughes 500 helicopters.

In addition to this, the Hilton Flying M Ranch is sending 11 private helicopters and nine fixed wing aircraft to assist searchers.

The helicopters are particularly useful in that they can fly closer to terrain (500 ft above the ground) and can quickly be sent in to verify possible targets and areas of high interest.

Importantly, it should be noted that Hilton Flying M Ranch assets are working seamlessly with CAP and the other participating agencies so that efforts are not duplicated and safety is maintained at all times.

Since low altitude airborne search and rescue is inherently risky, the emphasis is always on safety.

Search participants have been briefed on a variety of potential problems such as flying mountainous terrain, radio procedures, turbulence, adverse weather and density altitude issues.

Today’s weather promises to be clear with little wind factors until late afternoon.