P51 crashes at Reno Air Races

[dtango]

You can get hurt doing anything, can't you? Sad. Looked like he was going straight down without pulling up at all...?

That was the vantage point of that particular video.  It didn't catch the pull up.  They have video on the opposite end where the P-51 zooms up.  Eyewitness reports from the races talked about how Galloping Ghost appeared to wobble in the air before he pulled it up.  Other eyewitnesses reported the P-51 going up very steeply then tumbling out of control and then coming down inverted into the crowd.

A horrific crash indeed.

[W7LPNRICK]

Sent chills down my body watching it hit. 

Glad we're in cartoon planes, huh? me too   

[W7LPNRICK]

That was the vantage point of that particular video.  It didn't catch the pull up.  They have video on the opposite end where the P-51 zooms up.  Eyewitness reports from the races talked about how Galloping Ghost appeared to wobble in the air before he pulled it up.  Other eyewitnesses reported the P-51 going up very steeply then tumbling out of control and then coming down inverted into the crowd.

A horrific crash indeed.

What I saw was not inverted or tumbling, but nose first and straight in...? I wasn't there? who knows...

[cattb]

Full throttle, nose down from what I have read.In any case very sad though. 

[RoGenT]

That is sad indeed. You go to see great family fun, and it ends up turning into death and chaos...


  to the victims, killed or injuried.

[Messiah]

Wow, condolences to all those involved  . I wonder if it was mechanical or pilot error though? I've heard reports that he possibly blacked out in a stunt but also reports that he made a mayday call which would make me think it was mechanical. 

[saggs]

Wow, condolences to all those involved  . I wonder if it was mechanical or pilot error though? I've heard reports that he possibly blacked out in a stunt but also reports that he made a mayday call which would make me think it was mechanical.  

He may have blacked out but not from a stunt, he was racing, and Reno racers don't do stunts, it's like NASCAR in the air, they fly left hand circles as fast as they can.  

Photos taken just before impact reveal that an elevator trim tab separated, which at 400+ kias could very well cause a violent high-G pitch up as the elevator deflects so fast the pilot could not react in time, or was may have been physically unable to overcome, which could have led to him blacking out.  Also in another frame no helmet is visible through the canopy, which would support that idea.

All pure speculation of course.  I'll wait for the NTSB report, but that tab separating definitely had something to do with it, whether as a cause or effect, probably it's some of both. 

A very, very sad day indeed.  Crappy weekend for aviation all around, yesterday an RV-6 went down in a school parking lot near here killing the pilot.    I almost went to Reno this year but couldn't work it out, kinda glad I missed this year now.

[Plazus]

Thoughts and prayers to those who are affected by this incident. Hope all is well.

[texasmom]

Nova is ok

glad to hear that

[Yeager]

http://www.livestream.com/loadedtv/video?clipId=pla_b2efcd7d-ed04-4edf-89e8-f21ff436ccb4

go to 39 minute marker.  Cant be certain but it looks like the aircraft impacted right in a group of seating.  

[BERN1]

full throttle? he must have been unconcious

[mechanic]

He was and old guy, maybe he had a natural causes problem midflight. Tragic.

[Max]

News clips included a pre-race interview with the pilot, who is purported to be 74. He looked 20 years younger and in top physical shape.

[100Coogn]

News clips included a pre-race interview with the pilot, who is purported to be 74. He looked 20 years younger and in top physical shape.

I just saw this on the news this morning.  Yep, he was 74 and had been flying since he was 14.
I'm speechless.

  for all.

Coogan

[Fud]

On one of the videos out there, you can hear the doppler effect of the engine screaming in and then a horrific THUD. Still gives me chills. <S> and RIP..