Steve Fossett's Airplane Wreckage Found

Nation & World News

Photos of Steve Fossett and his adventures.

Searchers found the wreckage of Steve Fossett's airplane in California's rugged Sierra Nevada just over a year after the millionaire adventurer vanished on a solo flight. Here Fossett talks about one of his 2005 flights.

This image shows a color photocopy provided by the Madera County Sheriff's Dept. of three pieces of identification that appear to belong to Steve Fossett found Monday by a hiker in a rugged part of eastern California. Fossett vanished on a solo flight more than a year ago. The pieces of identification, clockwise from top left, show a membership card from the Soaring Society of America, a Federal Aviation Administration card, and a pilot's licence from the Department of Transportation.

Steve Fossett's Virgin Atlantic GlobaFlyer approaches the coast of Morocco on March 1, 2005.

Members of Steve Fossett's mission control crew celebrate during a July 2, 2002 news conference. Fossett, pilot of the Spirit of Freedom balloon, made aviation history when he crossed the finish line in Australia to complete his quest to pilot a balloon solo around the world.

Steve Fossett's balloon rises after takeoff on Aug. 5, 2001 as he set out on his sixth attempt in the Solo Spirit balloon to make the first solo flight around the world.

Steve Fossett, left, talks while his wife Peggy looks on after one of his record setting attempts was delayed by high crosswinds.

Steve Fossett, back, and his co-pilot, Einar Enevoldson, front, get ready to attempt to break the glider world altitude record of 49,009 feet at the California City Municipal Airport on March 14, 2003.

Steve Fossett sits atop the gondola of his balloon as he speaks with a member of the Russian military, in a field near the Black Sea on Jan. 5, 1998 after his failed attempt at flying non-stop around the world. The American piloted the balloon about a third of the way round the world but was stymied by uncooperative winds, low fuel and equipment problems.

Two coast guard choppers head for Barbers Point Naval Air Station after picking up three balloonists 15 miles north of Kahuku Point on Oahu, Hawaii, after a failed attempt to make the first nonstop round-the-world flight in a balloon Friday, Dec. 25, 1998.

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Searchers found the wreckage of Steve Fossett's airplane in California's rugged Sierra Nevada just over a year after the millionaire adventurer vanished on a solo flight. Here Fossett talks about one of his 2005 flights.

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