The National Transportation Safety Board has determined that mountain downdrafts-as strong as 400 feet per minute-exceeded the climb capability of Steve Fossett’s borrowed Bellanca Decathlon. He crashed into the side of a mountain in eastern California after taking off from a friend’s ranch airstrip for a pleasure flight. High density altitude (estimated at 13,000 feet) at the 10,000-foot-elevation crash site was also a factor in the September 3, 2007 accident. The climb capability of the airplane was estimated at 300 feet per minute under existing conditions. Despite a massive search effort, the wreckage and Fossett’s remains weren’t located until more than a year later, when a hiker found cash and some of Fossett’s personal papers near Mammoth Lakes, California on October 7, 2008. The wreckage of the Bellanca was found about a half mile away, and human remains were identified as those of Fossett. Click here to read the NTSB’s final report.
Fossett Succumbed to Mountain Downdrafts: NTSB
Key Takeaways:
- Steve Fossett's 2007 plane crash was caused by mountain downdrafts, which exceeded the climb capability of his Bellanca Decathlon.
- High density altitude at the 10,000-foot-elevation crash site was a significant contributing factor to the accident.
- Despite a massive search, the wreckage and Fossett's remains were not located until over a year later, discovered by a hiker in October 2008.
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