( CNN ) -- The Civil Air Patrol has called off the search for multimillionaire adventurer Steve Fossett , nearly a month after he took off from a Nevada ranch , the agency announced Tuesday . Adventurer Steve Fossett has been missing since September 3 . Fossett , 63 , was last seen September 3 when he left hotel magnate Barron Hilton 's private Minton , Nevada , ranch in a single-engine plane . He was reported missing after his Bellanca Super Decathlon failed to return from the flight . Fossett was said to be scouting test sites for a future attempt at breaking the land speed record . In a statement announcing the end of the effort , the Civil Air Patrol said rescuers covered 20,000 square miles in an effort to locate Fossett -- `` one of the largest , most intensive searches for a missing aircraft in modern history . '' `` The Civil Air Patrol joins the rest of the aviation world and admirers worldwide in its disappointment in not locating Steve Fossett , '' said Brig . Gen. Amy S. Courter , the agency 's acting national commander . Fossett was the first man to fly around the world in a balloon alone and the first solo pilot to circle the globe without refueling . He holds 14 world records in airplane flight , two for ballooning , six in gliders and one in an airship , in addition to 11 records for sailing and one for cross-country skiing . `` This remarkable man showed us what grit and determination are all about , '' Courter said . `` In his life , he chased and shattered world records , floating and flying farther and faster than anyone before . His adventures are many and his accomplishments profound . We regret that those adventures may have come to an end . '' The search was scaled back September 19 , but rescuers said they would continue to pursue tips sent by phone and e-mail . E-mail to a friend .
The Nevada Civil Air Patrol had been looking for Fossett for September 3 . The 63-year-old record-breaker was last seen nearly a month . Fossett called search `` one of the largest , most intensive searches '' in history . CAP was first to fly around the globe in a balloon , among other feats .