Fossett Had 'Subconscious Death Wish'

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»

Calif. man fields thanks from Branson before fleeing spotlight

(NEWSER) - The widow of adventurer Steve Fossett, whose wrecked plane was found this week in the Sierra Nevada mountains, reached out personally yesterday to the hiker who played the key role in the discovery, the LA Times reports. Peggy Fossett thanked outdoorsman and sporting-goods salesman Preston Morrow for the chance to “bring to closure a very painful chapter in my life.” More»

Crash likely to remain a puzzle as ocean currents shift debris over a vast area

(NEWSER) - As shifting ocean currents spread debris from Air France Flight 447 over a wider area, the chances rise that it will become one of aviation's unsolved mysteries. CNN rounds up some other biggies:

• Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific in 1937 while on a round-the-world flight.
• Numerous aircraft have crashed mysteriously in the "Bermuda Triangle," including a team of five Navy bombers that disappeared in 1949 after getting disoriented.

Widow hopes this 'puts a definitive end' to speculation

(NEWSER) - California officials today identified two large bones found near a Sierra Nevada crash site as Steve Fossett's, the Fresno Bee reports. The Madera County Sheriff refused to say which of the adventurer's bones were found, to avoid hurting the family further, reports the AP. "I am hopeful that the DNA identification puts a definitive end to all of the speculation surrounding Steve's death," said Fossett's widow, Peggy Fossett. 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»