Air Race crash in Reno

[s3fella]

Sounds awful and lots of casualties.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14957437

[maxxy5]

It came literally straight down. I guess somebody will say 'this was waiting to happen' ?

[Eric Mc]

Very sad but was probably going to happen someday.

[hornetrider]

The video is on the Washington Post website, looks awful. However the aircraft seems to be on a completely different trajectory to the others which are racing, seems an odd one to me.

[Munter]

Eye witness apparently.
http://nighthacks.com/roller/jag/entry/i_m_alive

[mrloudly]

I was there in 2002 and the crowd line is a fair way back from the circuit. Looks like the crash was in the
VIP area, thank god it didn't make it a bit further along into the grandstand, it could have been a LOT worse.
Still a tragedy for all involved RIP

[Civpilot]

There is another video on YouTube taken from the other side of the crash. Coming out of the final turn he very quickly pulls up and is appearing to climb out, the plane then rolls to the left onto it's back and nose dives in. Explains the extra speed and angle and going by the speed of the manoeuvre the pilot had no control at all from the moment she goes nose up

[Use Psychology]

absolute tragedy, but still, dangerous things are dangerous and some worthwhile things are dangerous too. We shouldn't let accidents stop us from doing such things. sympathy and condolences to anyone involved.

[mrloudly]

Civpilot said:

There is another video on YouTube taken from the other side of the crash. Coming out of the final turn he very quickly pulls up and is appearing to climb out, the plane then rolls to the left onto it's back and nose dives in. Explains the extra speed and angle and going by the speed of the manoeuvre the pilot had no control at all from the moment she goes nose up

Do you have a link?

[Vieste]

Loads are on youtube if you look now but most are getting pulled asap.


RIP to those that were killed

[mrloudly]

Found it thanks. Looks like he'd lost pitch control, still appeared to roll OK. Tragic.
Would imagine there's only going to be the video to sort this one out! Scary!
RIP

[B Huey]

Hard to believe the death toll won't rise considerably.

[IforB]

It will rise unfortunately. A friend of a friend was there and says he saw at least a dozen bodies and thinks there were plenty more.

A horrible accident. Here's hoping there aren't any kneejerk reactions to ban it.

[Apache]

Looks like he lost an elevator trim tab

http://corduroyplanet.blogspot.com/2011/09/chilled...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiDwLUqst7o

terrible tradegy

[Mojocvh]

Eric Mc said:

Very sad but was probably going to happen someday.

Never knew they allowed that number of spectators at Reno at all.

Or was it because it was a practice day??

Terrible, terrible accident, and SO unfortunate that the aircraft found the crowd line.

RIP.

[Simpo Two]

Vieste said:

Loads are on youtube if you look now but most are getting pulled asap.

On what grounds? Distaste?

We see footage of air crashes all the time - so what time must pass before 'distasteful' becomes 'OK carry on'? 1 day? 1 week? Or some random interval determined by throwing a die?

[RegMolehusband]

The thud of that plane hitting the ground made me feel sick, just awful.

[DamienB]

Apache said:

Looks like he lost an elevator trim tab

http://corduroyplanet.blogspot.com/2011/09/chilled...

The blogger on that link doesn't have a clue what he's talking about.

For high speed flight you'll have lots of nose-down trim dialled in; lose the elevator trim tab and the aircraft will pull up *hard*. It's happened before - see http://www.warbird.com/voodoo.html - and it was more than a 10G pull-up which knocked the pilot out. Chances are this pilot was unconscious from that moment (he certainly doesn't appear to throttle down or try to recover and the small spasmodic roll movements don't look controlled). Bloody horrible and pure bad luck that it hit where it did - or you could say good luck that it didn't hit a little closer to the crowd.

[ApexJimi]

I suppose, as others have said, it's very fortunate he didn't go further into the crowd. Still, very very bad news indeed.

[dr_gn]

74 year old pilot?