Hiker Brings 'Closure' for Fossett Widow

Plane didn't malfunction, NTSB investigators conclude

(NEWSER) - Investigators have determined that the crash that killed Steve Fossett was most likely caused by sudden turbulence, the BBC reports. An NTSB probe concluded that there was no malfunction with the adventurer's plane, and that an "inadvertent encounter with downdrafts" caused him to lose control of his aircraft in the September 2007 crash. More»

Snow obscures crash site, could pose danger to investigators

(NEWSER) - The snowstorm that stopped investigators' search for aviator Steve Fossett this week will likely keep such efforts suspended until spring, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. A 2-foot buildup of snow has covered any evidence on the ground, and could pose hazards for search teams. Federal officials had removed the wreckage of Fossett's plane before the storm started. More»

Skeletal remains found with Fossett's ID

(NEWSER) - Searchers have found what are believed to be the skeletal remains of Steve Fossett close to where his plane crashed in California, People reports. The bones were found near a pair of tennis shoes, credit cards, and Fossett's driver’s license. Pending DNA tests, the county sheriff said he believed the investigation is finished and Fossett's family can finally have closure. More»

(NEWSER) - Steve Fossett took his last, fatal flight into the Sierra Nevada mountains last year because he unconsciously wanted to die, a friend of his said yesterday. Will Hasley, who helped Fossett write a memoir 2 years ago, believes the aviation pioneer was guilt-ridden over marital and financial problems before the crash. "He believed it was time for him to go," Hasley told the Daily Mail. More»

$50M Hornet disintegrates into smoldering debris in Fresno field

(NEWSER) - Two service members were killed yesterday when a fighter jet crashed into a field in central California during a training exercise. The F/A-18F Super Hornet went down a half mile from the Naval Air Station outside of Fresno. Witnesses said the $50 million aircraft disintegrated into "smoldering debris," reports AP . It was the second Hornet accident in just over a week in the state. The engine of a F/A-18C Hornet burst into flames on an aircraft carrier last week off San Diego. Several people were injured, but no one was killed in that accident. More»