this just in......

The National Transportation and Safety Board has opined as to the probable cause of the crash that took the life of Eagle Scout & Explorer Steve Fossett two year ago....are you ready?

Okay. He crashed.

Yup that's it. Oh you want the official gubbermint speak long winded version...sure her ya go..

It was "the pilot's inadvertent encounter with downdrafts that exceeded the climb capability of the airplane [in combination with] mountainous terrain."

See, he crashed. The olde unanticipated air-ground interface.

So, to prevent such occurrences in the future we pilots fully expect the NTSB to issue a ruling any day now advising against crashing ones plane. Safety and all that stuff.

Carry on.