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ROBERT BLEVINS - AB OF SEATTLE
Reporter: 'Are you a mod or a rocker?' Ringo Starr: 'I'm a MOCKER...'
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Member Since: 3/2007
Member Since: 3/2007
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PrintNewsvine Scoop! Search Director for Steve Fossett Says in Exclusive Interview: 'Am I Confident We're Going To Find Him This Time? Yes.'
News Type: Event — Wed Sep 26, 2007 8:07 PM EDT
Not the same plane as Fossett''s, but similar. His is actually more colorful than this one.
General map of Fossett''s takeoff point and where his wreckage was spotted.
Silver Peaks Range area.
Photo Credit: Tom Schweich
Another photo of the Silver Peaks
Photo Credit: Tom Schweich
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In an exclusive telephone interview today with Gary Derks, the Nevada Department of Public Safety official who is in charge of the search for adventurer Steve Fossett, this writer learned that Mr Derks knows more than he told the major news services about new photographs and radar data provided by the Air Force. When I asked Mr Derks how confident he was in the new Air Force data, his reply was: "Am I confident we're going to find him this time? Yes. Am I confident we're going to find him alive? I am still hopeful on that."
The only restriction during my interview of Mr Derks was that I could not ask the exact location of the new, massive search that is being mounted on Saturday morning, September 29. Both air and ground rescue teams are involved, from four different counties in Nevada. The reason for security is because the rescue teams do not want outsiders interfering with the recovery.
On questioning Mr Derks further, I learned that Nellis AFB finally tracked down Fossett's exact heading and speed after he left Minden, after researching radar data extensively. Mr Fossett apparently dropped below 2,000 feet in the Silver Peaks Range area and did not appear on radar after that time. Higher resolution Air Force images, probably provided by spy satellites, found what looks like Fossett's plane on the ground.
Derks said that when he met with the Air Force officials who had processed the images, he was not surprised that no one had found Mr Fossett on the ground previously. Derks said, 'I couldn't even see it (the plane) in the image until they showed me how to look...'
From my conversation with Mr Derks, I also learned that the rescue teams are going to an exact spot, not doing a general search. In other words, they know where they have to go. Derks says the area is rugged and very difficult terrain to negotiate. When I asked Derks if the plane could be from an old crash, he said: 'We don't think so.' He declined to elaborate at first, but when I pressed him further on this point, he admitted that the high-res images showed 'a great likelihood' it was indeed Fossett's plane.
My guess is that because Fossett's Bellanca has sunburst designs on the wings, and is in general quite colorful, that this could be part of the reason they know it's Fossett.
When I asked WHY no one was going up there immediately, perhaps by helicopter, he declined to answer except to say it was 'difficult terrain'. The other possibility is that the Air Force and Derks already know somehow that Fossett did not survive the crash, or he has left the crash site. Generally, the Air Force images are of better quality than Google Earth and can resolute items on the ground as small as six inches across.
Hopefully, it will still be a rescue, and not a recovery.
Author's Note: My thanks to Tom Schweich at www.schweich.com for allowing me to use some images of the Silver Peaks Range area, and to Gary Derks for speaking frankly with me.
CLICK HERE to go to the FINAL article in this series. It was written after they found the wreckage of the plane.
19 Votes- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
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 | Fossett Search Turns to Death Valley | Associated Press | Tue Sep 25 | 1 |
| Crews Search for Fossett on Foot, by Air | Associated Press | Sat Sep 29 | 3 |
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{"commentId":1055886,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
This article has been released to KOMO TV news and other media in the Seattle area. I also telephoned Newsvine and emailed them verifying the authenticity of the interview, the quotes by Mr Derks, etc.
{"commentId":1055886,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
- 4 votes
#1 - Wed Sep 26, 2007 8:38 PM EDT{"commentId":1055977,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}
I hope that it leads to finding him. Did you see the info that the Air Force is looking into ? Looks interesting also.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20070925-1935-stevefossett.html
Relying on new leads from Air Force experts, crews looking for famed aviator Steve Fossett plan to comb a rugged area near Death Valley
Gary Derks, the state Department of Public Safety official in charge of the search, said the Air Force analyzed images picked up by radar and satellite and "picked up what could be Mr. Fossett, his track."
This was posted on the San Diego Web site 7:35 p.m. September 25, 2007, I have not seen any updates or any other info on this one.
I'll keep an eye on KOMO, I am on their Email update list. Thanks for the update on Steve.
{"commentId":1055977,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}
- 3 votes
#2 - Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:18 PM EDT{"commentId":1056000,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
{"commentId":1055992,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
Tedd: They already know where Fossett is. Until my telephone interview with him at 4pm (Seattle time), he was telling news services it 'could be him'. In reality, they KNOW it is. I was only disturbed by the fact it doesn't sound like they're sending out a helicopter right away. This is not good. Or, maybe they're just keeping it a secret.
{"commentId":1055992,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
- 3 votes
#3 - Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:29 PM EDT{"commentId":1056142,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}
Robert, I apologize......I thought I found something different (i.e. new and important) then what you had and did not realize I was posting basically the same thing with the comment from Derks........I think I must be a bit brain dead today.
{"commentId":1056142,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1056106,"authorDomain":"lesliecheers"}
Can I ask a question? What's a "scoop?"
This info has already been in newspapers, even the map info on the search area, earlier this week. So what makes this "exclusive"? Are you saying that Mr. Derks told you that they know where the missing pilot is? Let us know!
{"commentId":1056106,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"lesliecheers"}
- 2 votes
#4 - Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:34 PM EDT{"commentId":1056214,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
Leslie: A quote from the article above...
'When I asked Derks if the plane could be from an old crash, he said: 'We don't think so.' He declined to elaborate at first, but when I pressed him further on this point, he admitted that the high-res images showed 'a great likelihood' it was indeed Fossett's plane.'
I think Derks was just tired of playing cat and mouse with the media. He basically told me they know the Air Forces images show Fossett's plane. He sounded a bit tired. I was very polite to him on the telephone, and urged him to give me all the details. I think I said something about the great number of people who wanted to know, one way or the other. So...he opened up.
{"commentId":1056214,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
- 2 votes
#5 - Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:33 PM EDT{"commentId":1056228,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
Until the interview, Derks was saying they had new Air Force radar data and images, and that they were going to search between Death Valley and Silver Peaks Ridge. Everyone knows that who follows this story.
But when I interviewed him, he admitted they were fairly certain they had found Fossett's crash site. So, it's not really a 'search'. They already know where to go. Derks has seen the images, and had them explained to him by Air Force personnel.
I answered these questions in the article...
{"commentId":1056228,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
- 3 votes
#6 - Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:43 PM EDT{"commentId":1057096,"authorDomain":"lesliecheers"}
Thanks for explaining! I don't know everything yet about how this website works. See, I had read and heard the exact same information somewhere else before reading your stuff. So I got confused. You're right--it's new here! Sorry!
{"commentId":1057096,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"lesliecheers"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1056232,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
Nice exclusive, Robert. Great job!
{"commentId":1056232,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
- 3 votes
#7 - Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:46 PM EDT{"commentId":1056233,"authorDomain":"lele"}
Good job, Robert! I hope the answers are found!
{"commentId":1056233,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"lele"}
- 3 votes
#8 - Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:46 PM EDT{"commentId":1056248,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
Beating out AP and Google News to get to the REAL facts about what Mr Derks knew about the Air Force data, including that he examined the images with the photo-recon guys from Nellis, was a good thing. I was more than polite, and sympathtic to his situation. He fielded dozens of calls before Mr Nobody called him.
I haven't a clue why he decided to tell me things he'd been withholding all day. But, I appreciate it.
{"commentId":1056248,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
- 4 votes
#9 - Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:55 PM EDT{"commentId":1060123,"authorDomain":"renesis"}
The only thing I wonder is, when you say that they "know" that it's Fossett's plane, likely because of "better quality" images that can resolute objects as small as 6 inches: If the pictures are that good, how come Derks said he couldn't see it until he was told how to look at it?
{"commentId":1060123,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"renesis"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1062978,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
{"commentId":1056249,"authorDomain":"donnagee"}
Excellent coverage, Robert. Thanks for the heads up on your article.
{"commentId":1056249,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"donnagee"}
- 4 votes
#10 - Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:55 PM EDT{"commentId":1056355,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
Clipped!
{"commentId":1056355,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
- 3 votes
#11 - Thu Sep 27, 2007 1:10 AM EDT{"commentId":1056462,"authorDomain":"geoffnelder"}
Wizard stuff, Robert!
Well done.
Geoff
{"commentId":1056462,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"geoffnelder"}
- 3 votes
#12 - Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:31 AM EDT{"commentId":1056820,"authorDomain":"coloradobob1"}
When I look at that plane .... I can't help think , " What a tinker toy."
{"commentId":1056820,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"coloradobob1"}
- 2 votes
#13 - Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:13 AM EDT{"commentId":1057805,"authorDomain":"dlp-1"}
Thanks for being inquisitive about this recovery (likely) effort. This is the first non-vague information that I have heard about the search in a while. The weather turned snowy up high last weekend, and I doubt anyone without a sleeping bag at night would last long during the recent cool down. I note that the latest Geo-eye images on Amazon being offered as HITs are well north of the new search zone. There doesn't even seem to be any release of new satellite images for that region. Since Fossett's plane is covered with fabric, I am not surprised that it has been hard to find. I have often experienced desert winds on the CA/NV border capable of shredding tents and sending the remnants to Oz. I'm headed up to the Owens Valley this weekend, so I'll keep my eyes open for unusual air action to the east.
{"commentId":1057805,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"dlp-1"}
- 3 votes
#14 - Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:31 PM EDT{"commentId":1059552,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
Again, the only bothersome thing is this: Derks said he had seen images and radar data from the Air Force. They are going up on Saturday. Why are they waiting? He was ambigious on this point. It was not a good sign.
I posted up a link this morning from an old article about a pilot who went down in the Sierras in wintertime. He walked out 13 days later - with 16 broken bones, a collapsed lung, and a shattered ankle. What a story...
I should have copied the link over. It's listed under U.S. News as 'From 1994: Pilot Survives Crash in Sierras...' etc.
{"commentId":1059552,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
- 3 votes
#15 - Fri Sep 28, 2007 10:11 AM EDT{"commentId":1062042,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
Awesome story, Robert. Given your day job, I'm guessing you're familiar with dozens of tales like this, but they always impress the heck out of me. They're my favourite type of adventure story, with the most recent really good example probably being Joe Simpson's 'Touching the Void', but it's a genre that goes back a long, long time....
(ps, another example from the last few years was the story of canyoneer Aron Ralston... amazing.
{"commentId":1062042,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1062975,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
AB of Seattle actively seeks True-Life Adventure stories for publication. Unfortunately, no one has subbed yet. I suppose if they had a good story, they would probably go for a larger publisher, but there is always hope.
On a separate note, still NOTHING about Fossett. I can't figure it out. Almost like a news blackout or something.
{"commentId":1062975,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
- 1 vote
#16 - Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:04 PM EDT{"commentId":1063181,"authorDomain":"edward-guerrero"}
Robert, I just finished reading about Your recent interview with the Fossett search director and the following
comments posted since Wed Sept 26. Lately, I too have noticed great reluctance in their acceptance of info. I have seen an unusual absence of tangible news as well. What I have seen so far also, when reporting the area of coordinates of his location; it seems to be based simply on conjecture. Last week I submitted the use of cell phone technology to supplement the current efforts to several organizations, but I never heard or read anything about it's viability.
Early this month on Your article titled "Where in the Heck is Steve Fossett" I posted comments #17 &18
similar to the suggestions offered.....if You have a chance to read these would You please critique the
suggestion posted.
{"commentId":1063181,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"edward-guerrero"}
- 2 votes
#17 - Sat Sep 29, 2007 10:20 PM EDT{"commentId":1063366,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}
Robert, Did you see the new article ?
Ground Search on for Missing Adventurer
Dozens of searchers set off into the rugged Nevada backcountry Saturday after analysts scanning radar and satellite images spotted what may be clues to the whereabouts of missing adventurer Steve Fossett. Sat Sep 29, 2007 4:40 PM PDT
If its ground crew, does that mean they have located something according to Derks ?
{"commentId":1063366,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}
- 2 votes
#18 - Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:38 AM EDT{"commentId":1063499,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
Yes, I reviewed the article. Derks knew last week about the site, from the Air Force images he was shown. Why they waited until now to actually GO there, I haven't a clue. Those questions will have to be answered by someone...
{"commentId":1063499,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
- 3 votes
#19 - Sun Sep 30, 2007 4:09 AM EDT{"commentId":1070660,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
Update, October 2: Well, they gave up on this latest search, too. I don't know what to think except Derks was wrong.
Sometimes I still think they are looking in the wrong place.
{"commentId":1070660,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
- 4 votes
#20 - Wed Oct 3, 2007 10:39 AM EDT{"commentId":1217625,"authorDomain":"donatosv"}
Hi Robert,
I'm just curious to know what new news you might have heard about the search for the plane wreckage. Any additional news about the search in the Silver Peaks range? I've searched the web and found nothing.
{"commentId":1217625,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"donatosv"}
#21 - Mon Nov 26, 2007 6:08 PM EST{"commentId":1407973,"authorDomain":"rfulcher44"}
Has anyone ever found flyer Steve Fossett? It's been quite awhile and I never hear anything on the news. You would think with all these fancy electronics someone could find him.
{"commentId":1407973,"threadId":"155148","contentId":"987361","authorDomain":"rfulcher44"}
#22 - Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:52 PM EST{"canLink":false,"threadId":"155148","isPrivate":false}
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