September 3, 2007, Super Decathlon N240R near Yerington, NV (FOUND 10/1/08 near MAMMOTH LAKES, CA)
On September 3, 2007, at approximately 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB-180, N240R, was reported overdue/missing near Yerington, Nevada. The airline transport pilot (Steve Fossett) was the sole occupant on board. The airplane has not yet been found. The Flying M Hunting Club Inc. was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight, which originated at approximately 0900. No flight plan had been filed.
Friends of the pilot said that he was on a reconnaissance flight to look at some of the regional dry lakebeds. He was scheduled to return to the Flying M Ranch by 1200. When the pilot failed to return, a search for the aircraft commenced immediately. There were no known emergency radio transmissions from the airplane, nor were any ELT transmissions received.
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UPDATE: Personal items were located by a hiker on September 29, 2008. The aircraft wreckage was located by a search team on October 1, 2008.
Read MoreFriends of the pilot said that he was on a reconnaissance flight to look at some of the regional dry lakebeds. He was scheduled to return to the Flying M Ranch by 1200. When the pilot failed to return, a search for the aircraft commenced immediately. There were no known emergency radio transmissions from the airplane, nor were any ELT transmissions received.
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UPDATE: Personal items were located by a hiker on September 29, 2008. The aircraft wreckage was located by a search team on October 1, 2008.
