Hiker Discovers Items Linked to Missing Adventurer

A pilot involved in a renewed search for the adventurer Steve Fossett spotted what he believed to be plane wreckage Wednesday in rugged east-central California mountains. On Monday, a hiker came across items believed to belong to the missing aviator.

Preston Morrow was hiking in a rugged California area.

Officials said they would know by a news conference on Thursday morning whether it was wreckage and if so if whether it belonged to Mr. Fossett, who has been missing for 13 months.

“We’re asking for confirmation from the ground search and rescue teams” who were camping overnight in the mountains, said Erica Stuart, a spokeswoman for the Madera County sheriff. “We need to know if it is wreckage and, if it is, whose wreckage it is.”