7:12pm UK, Thursday October 02, 2008

Search teams have found the wreckage of Steve Fossett’s plane in California, authorities have confirmed.

Fossett’s plane wreckage recovered

The 63-year-old millionaire adventurer disappeared in his single-engined Bellanca in September 2007 after taking off from a desert ranch in nearby Nevada.

The wreckage was located about 10,000 feet up the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the vicinity of Mammoth Lakes, California. The National Transportation Safety Board said it had sent an investigator to the accident site.

Earlier, a hiker found clothing and ID cards apparently belonging to him about a quarter of a mile from the wreckage site.

Preston Morrow reportedly found Mr Fossett’s pilot’s licence, glider licence and membership card for the National Aeronautic Association, as well as several $100 dollar bills, which the adventurer was known to carry with him.

Mr Morrow did not see any wreckage himself. A sweatshirt was found in an area nearby by searchers after he reported his findings.

Mr Fossett’s friend, Sir Richard Branson, said the belongings were “definitely authentic”.

He told Sky: “In one sense it will bring closure. It very much looks like we are very close to finding Steve.”

He said he thought it “relatively likely” that Mr Fossett’s body would be found within the next couple of days when “we should be able to find out what went wrong”.

Sir Richard said of his friend: “He was the greatest adventurer ever, in history, I would say.

“He had 120 records in 20 different sports. He only started going after world records when he was 55 years old. Included in those records were some magnificent ballooning records.

“I had the privilege of flying with him when we were attempting to go round the world in a balloon. He was an absolute delight to fly with over 13 or 14 days in a tiny capsule together.

“He had a great sense of humour. He was as solid as you would wish anyone to be in a crisis situation. We had a good laugh together.”

Mr Morrow said: “I was coming back down this really steep terrain and what caught my eye was these little (ID) cards in the dirt and the pine needles, and some $100 bills.

“I see the ID. I caught the name. I got the ID cards… and about five or six of the hundred-dollar bills (which) were dirty and muddy.

“I was wondering, why are there some ID cards and money when there was nothing else? No wallet, no bags, nothing.”