Posted on 10/01/2008 4:51:38 PM PDT by valkyry1
A hiker came across the papers in the backcountry near Mammoth Mountain, according to the Madera County Sheriff's Department. The adventurer vanished in September 2007.
A hiker in the Sierra Nevada backcountry today found identification documents believed to be those of missing adventurer Steve Fossett, officials said.
The ID cards were found by hiker Preston Morrow off a trail near the town of Mammoth Lakes earlier this week and were turned in to local police. The items reportedly carried the name of James Steven Fossett and the same date of birth as the adventurer, who vanished in September 2007 after taking off by plane from a remote Nevada ranch.
Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration in Los Angeles, said he had received a photograph of a pilot's license that was reportedly found by the hiker.
"The certificate number and date of issue on the document in the photo matches the information we have for Mr. Fossett in our database," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
These $100 bills and three tattered pieces of identification, including an FAA pilot's license and a membership card in a soaring society, were found by a hiker, according to an attorney who knows him. (Discovery Channel / LMNO Productions / October 1, 2008)
Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration in Los Angeles, said he had received a photograph of a pilot’s license that was reportedly found by the hiker.
“The certificate number and date of issue on the document in the photo matches the information we have for Mr. Fossett in our database,” he said.
Other information, including Fossett’s date of birth and his address, also matched, he said.
Fossett’s widow, Peggy Fossett, issued a statement today after news of the findings spread.
“I am aware of the search underway for my husband, Steve Fossett, in the Mammoth Lakes area of Madera and Mono counties, California, following the discovery by a hiker of personal items that appear to belong to my husband,” she said in the statement. “I am hopeful that this search will locate the crash site and my husband’s remains. I am grateful to all of those involved in this effort.”
These items were found about 35 miles from where I’m at. Very rugged wilderness country back there.
Steve's chilling.
I cannot read anything on that license but it does look like a pilot’s license for any who are curious. (I’m a private pilot).
I wonder if these items were in a wallet or something, or just flapping around in the breeze. I guess more details will come out later.
Either he separated from his plane way up for a variety of reasons or, he stayed with the plane all the way down in which case, the crash site can't be too far away.
“(I’m a private pilot).”
same here.
There is a chunk missing out of the corner.
Those things are like credit cards, so crash damage or animals? nothing looks burned or blood stained.
I wonder if he survived the crash?
They are speculating that the airplane hit the top of a mountain ridge and ejected him into this heavy brush where the articles were found.
That is only 68 miles from the place he took off from....
I thought this qualified as breaking news.
Where is this place, in relation to where Fossett was presumed to be missing? I realize that the search covered thousands of square miles, but is this find even close to where the search was?
This is part of the area that was searched by air last year. Very difficult to do on foot.
They flew over this area, but the intense search was concentrated more north if I read correctly.
(At least) $905 in cash? Isn’t that a bit unusual to have that much cash on you for a land speed record recon flight?
Did he expect to have to pay cash for his fuel when he returned to base?
Reds Meadow (looking north)
Reds Meadow (looking west)
I guess maybe not that unusual for him to carry around 10 bills like that.
Makes you think, doesn’t it?
I know a billionaire who keeps a wad of cash in his pocket at all times. Seems like Steve was the same.
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