"Steve Fossett: What Went Wrong?" TV Special Upcom

The Discovery Channel will air a television program hoping to answer the question on Monday, 1 December in a special investigating Steve Fossett's last flight on 3 September, 2007, resulting in a fatal crash. The program's description: "Its the shocking story of the mysterious disappearance and death of the greatest aviator in the world: Steve Fossett. The crash, the questions, and the haunting answers you've never heard...until now."

I provided the show's Producer permission to use my copyrighted photos of N240R, with which they intend to animate the last flight and crash of the aircraft.

The hour-long program will be aired at 10 p.m. Eastern, 9 p.m. Central and again at 2 a.m. (1 a..m.). Mark your calendar on this one, a viewing must.

I have some thoughts on the crash-lets see if the program's conclusions agree.

The Discovery Channel on TV will show the Steve Fossett Special in the USA Pacific Time Zone on Monday, 1 December 2008 at 10 p.m., and again early Tuesday morning, 2 December at 2 a.m. I have no info on show times for Mountain Time or for worldwide satellite feeds.

If you want to program your video recorder for later viewing: the numbers for Pacific Time Zone only are 117772 and 595598, respectively.

Welcome aboard the Forum, Lt.Col. Ryan.

Lest some Discovery Channel viewers be confused by the real aircraft shown frequently in the background and taxiing to simulate the takeoff sequence, it was N94HY, a 2005 Aviat A-1B HUSKY, not a Bellanca 8KCAB SUPER DECATHLON like Steve Fossett was flying. Similar, but different.

My photo of N240R first appeared momentarily at 18 minutes into the show with some of SZP in the background. The crashed aircraft positive ID was shown at 38 minutes into the hour showing the full N number on a surviving piece of the crashed aircraft's fabric. The animation of the Bellanca crash was at 42 minutes into the hour with more flight animations at 46 through 51 minutes into the program.

The crash was depicted as striking the mountain glancing (landing gear and) belly first and breaking up over a wide area. The fire was extensive and burned trees show the intensity and burn pattern. Much was made of bones of Fossett confirmed by DNA testing found 3/4 mile from the crash site, and the five point aerobatic harness (with crotch strap) circular buckle was found released without any metal strap keepers on it. This suggested to some that Fossett survived the crash and was able to get out and make it the 3/4ths mile from the crash site. Or, consider that he did not use the very confining 5-point aerobatic straps. There are two sets of straps on the 8KCAB, including the conventional lap seat straps.

While it was pointed out an animal couldn't have released that harness, it is entirely possible that crash forces-the control stick right in front of it-or some other part of the crash dynamics could have somehow released the circular buckle. I personally don't believe Fossett survived the crash and fire. The bones could have been dragged by a mountain lion or lions predator(s) away from the crash site if there was still some human flesh to consume. That could explain the scattered pattern of the chewed money and personal effects, and don't discount wind and gravity as they were downslope of the crash site. One stumper is the shoes of Fossett were found with the ID'd bones. In airline crashes, no cadavers are found with shoes still on. Animals gnaw shoes too, if they are leather.

There is a secret warehouse in Sacramento, CA where the NTSB is assembling the aircraft remains. Further speculation awaits their official findings. But, share your thoughts here.

No credits of any kind were shown at the end.

Lt. Col. Ryan, as on-scene PIO your background knowledge in the disappearance, subsequent searches and crash site findings comments are appreciated. There are unexplained personal facets of this crash and its circumstances. Perhaps we will never know the full story; the Discovery Channel special program did not really dig deeply and ignored some troubling questions in many minds. At least, the positive DNA ID answered where Steve Fossett died, preventing decades of speculation such as where Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan really went down, to name a prominent aircraft disappearance mystery.