Tragedy at Reno Air Races

[firemonte007]

I just saw this on the news and didnt know if anyone else has seen this yet.

[pete]

Bad and sad.

[Steve M]

That is terrible news. It got me thinking, one of the forum members (Specter177) used to post videos from Leeward air ranch. His grandfather had a P51 called Galloping Ghost 177. If it's the one and the same, my sincere condolences go out to him and his family.

[ozzy72]

Just fired up my PC and seen the news. Shocking

[Travis]

Good grief.  I just saw a video taken from the stands not 50 yards from the crash.  The P-51 was pulling out of a dive that had him pointed straight at the cameraman, and at the last moment pulled up just enough not to hit him or the grandstands, but impacted amongst the lawn chairs scattered below them.  9 people died and many others were wounded.  Some of the participants in the show fueled a nearby Huey on display and ferried some of the injured to a nearby hospital.  Very tragic thing to have happen.

[Pubba02]

pic 12 shows no pilot http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_c ... id=1710180 just saw the same pic on a local news report

[Steve M]

pic 12 shows no pilot http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_c ... id=1710180 just saw the same pic on a local news report

As I understand, the wings were clipped by 5 feet and the canopy was modified to be a fair bit smaller than the original P51. So It's possible the pilot was pinned back in his seat, and rightfully so, but just out of view. 

[Fozzer]

Comparing this recent West Virginia crash, and the Reno one, involving fuel...>>>

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/09/17/west.v ... ?hpt=hp_t2

It looks as though the P-51 was; "running on empty" at the time!

No immediate response to the dangers of aviation fuel fumes and/or spillage!

Paul.

[C]

pic 12 shows no pilot http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_c ... id=1710180 just saw the same pic on a local news report

As I understand, the wings were clipped by 5 feet and the canopy was modified to be a fair bit smaller than the original P51. So It's possible the pilot was pinned back in his seat, and rightfully so, but just out of view.

[CaptainCub]

My question is, why were the planes flying so close to the spectator area? My local news has run the eyewitness video of the plane augering in scant feet from where peole were seated, now I've been to airshows and spectators were kept well back from the flight area, so why wre they not at Reno?

My local talk radio has been buzzing about this the last few days, some have said all vintage aircraft should be grounded forever, one woman even went so far as to say they should be scrapped, and others have said that an end should be put to air shows like Reno. I feel sorry for the family of the pilot as the legal "Vultures" are no doubt already circling looking for big wrongful death payouts for  those killed in this tragedy.

[C]

My question is, why were the planes flying so close to the spectator area? My local news has run the eyewitness video of the plane augering in scant feet from where peole were seated, now I've been to airshows and spectators were kept well back from the flight area, so why wre they not at Reno?

Possibly due to Reno's unique nature. That said, a similar failure on any fast aircraft, even travelling parallel to the crowd line at any airshow could have the same results. Airshow crowd lines are set to minimis risk, but sadly it can't be eliminated altogether. The only issue with Reno, is that due to the nature of the flying (closed circuit air race), and speeds involved, there will always be a time when the crowd are vulnerable, even if the aeroplane's a mile or more away - going at 400-500mph could always leave it ended up where you don't want it.

Hopefully, the element of bad luck will be considered. Sadly, the legal vultures will be circling.

[beaky]

My question is, why were the planes flying so close to the spectator area? My local news has run the eyewitness video of the plane augering in scant feet from where peole were seated, now I've been to airshows and spectators were kept well back from the flight area, so why wre they not at Reno?

The line that these Unlimited warbirds are supposed to fly within at Reno is actually 1/4 mile from the spectator area, at its closest. The boundary, called the "deadline" is marked with pylons. That's normally more than enough room, which is why this accident was the first in almost 50 years that involved spectators.
I think it's safe to assume that Mr. Leeward went just over the line a moment before the pitchup, just after leveling off from a turn, because he was losing control of the aircraft. Maybe he rolled level a hair early... if I was banked steeply at 400+ mph and felt the stick starting to jerk to and fro, I'd do the same. And as it pitched up and rolled over, it continued outside the line.
It's actually a bit of a miracle that it only went as far as it did... it actually impacted 65 feet away from the seats, and those killed and injured on the ground were struck by debris as the airplane disintegrated on impact.
But it could have gone much further... even if the race boundary was twice as far from the audience, people might have been killed or injured.
Unfortunately, there is always a little risk involved, even for people on the ground outside the airport boundary, let alone the race boundary... the Cleveland air races were banned after such an accident.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/09 ... ities.html