Steve Fossett Search Enters 6th Day

Aerial search exceeds 150 flight-hours, covers more than half of 10,000-sq.-mi. area.

A ARCHER-equipped Gipplsand GA-8 Airvan is helping in the search for famed aviator Steve Fossett. Photo courtesy: CAP

(MINDEN, Nev. ) - Day six of the search effort for famed aviator Steve Fossett began today, with air and ground crews from more than a dozen agencies continuing to cover the 17,000-square-mile search area in western Nevada and eastern California.

Authorities believe Fossett could have gone anywhere in that area during his flight, which began Sept. 3rd from the Flying M Ranch near Yerington, Nev.

The incident command post at Minden-Tahoe Airport in Minden, Nev., is coordinating the efforts of search teams from Douglas, Lyon, Mineral and Washoe counties in Nevada, and from Inyo, Mono and Nevada counties in California. U.S. Civil Air Patrol members from Nevada, California and Utah; Nevada and California National Guard aircraft; California Highway Patrol personnel; and Silver State Helicopters of Las Vegas are all taking part in the search effort.

About 26 aircraft, 230 ground searchers and one sonar-equipped boat are participating in the search.

Additionally, the Washoe County Search and Rescue team has deployed a submersible vehicle in Nevada’s Walker Lake. They hope to identify any wreckage or debris that might lead searchers to focus in that area.

An aerial search of roughly half of the 10,000-square-mile search area has been completed. More than 150 flight-hours have been flown.

The Civil Air Patrol pilots and observers are volunteers, and Silver State Helicopters is donating its time to the search effort.