Is Steve Fossett sufficiently missing to be deemed dead?

Steve Fossett, a famous American adventurer disappeared in September while taking a pleasure flight in rugged Western terrain.

Here are more details on this story from Mike Robinson, Court Asked to Declare Steve Fossett Dead, news.aol.com, Nov. 26, 2007:

The wife of millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett *** asked a court Monday to declare him legally dead.***

The request was a step toward resolving the legal status of Fossett’s estate, which *** is “vast, surpassing eight figures in liquid assets, various entities and real estate[.]” ***

Fossett had become one of America’s best-known adventurers in more than a decade of pouring his fabulous wealth – earned in Chicago’s commodities markets – into chases for world records in sailing, ballooning and other rugged and sometimes dangerous outdoor activities. ***

While the wreckage of the plane has not been found, the petition said there was no chance that Fossett might somehow have survived. ***

Special thanks to Sara Hudman (J.D. Candidate, Texas Tech University School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.