>> it was very distracting, they never looked back at the previous evidence they had. they focused everything on this new piece. >> reporter: the search area suddenly shifts dramatically, from the mountains, about 60 miles northeast to the desert. the search continues for months. still, no sign of steve fossett or his airplane. that is until a hiker finds some of fossett's personal belongings. it is now october 2008, more than a year after he disappeared. >> i came across the card, the id cards and the $100 bills in the dirt and the pine needles and stuff. and i went wow. we put it altogether, it is that fossett guy. >> reporter: turns out these items are found in the original search area, the mountains. the search teams quickly change their focus once again.