American golfer Payne Stewart died on October 25 after his chartered Lear 35 crashed in Mina, South Dakota. Five other people also died aboard the jet, which flew pilotless for 1,400 miles across America, trailed by American warplanes that could have been ordered to shoot it down had it come close to a population centre.\rNational Transportation Safety Board vice chairman Robert Francis, heading the crash investigation, said the wreckage was "fairly contained" and warned that it might be some time before the accident is fathomed. "Our concern is making sure that we do it properly rather than making sure we do it fast," he said.\rThe FAA said that the aircraft lost contact with the ground not long after take-off from Orlando, Florida, when it was climbing through 37,000 feet. Military aircraft tracking its flight came within 50 feet of the aircraft and reported that the windows appeared to be frosted over. Experts later confirmed that this was because of a "sudden and catastrophic" loss of cabin pressure. Francis said that investigators have spoken with Learjet officials and will look at records of the aircraft and talk with officials at the company who owned it.\rThe Daily Record reported that the CAA will not be ordering checks on Learjets until advised to do so by the FAA. A spokeswoman said: "If the FAA find some fault which would require checking out other similar aircraft, then obviously appropriate action will be taken." \rThe Lear 35, operated in charter service by Sunjet aviation of Sanford, Florida, had logged more than 10,000 hours and 7,500 take-offs and landings since its delivery to Sunjet in 1976, according to a spokesman for Bombardier Aerospace. "Some media reports have referenced three previous incidents between 1983 and 1990. To link these accidents to the very rare occurrence of October 25 is misleading and pure speculation until the full investigation is completed. The other situations involved different aircraft models that have different airframe styles, engines and pressurisation control systems."\rStewart was one of golf's most recognisable players in his trademark old-style knickerbockers and cap. He won eleven times on the PGA Tour, including three major championships in the past 10 years. Golf's elite gathered with his family in Florida on October 29 for a memorial service, taking the day off from the first round of the Tour Championship.