Fossett plane recovery hampered by weather; might not resume this year

MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. -- California officials say recovery efforts around the site of adventurer Steve Fossett's downed plane might not resume until summer.

Snowfall ended the search in the Sierra Nevada on Friday. Madera County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Erica Stuart says she does not expect weather conditions to improve enough for crews to return to the site this year.

Authorities say they completed most of what they needed to do Friday when they removed debris from Fossett's plane and found three more bone fragments.

The bone fragments will be sent to a lab to determine whether they are human and a match for Fossett.

Fossett vanished in September 2007 during what was supposed to be a short pleasure flight. Wreckage from his plane was discovered last week.