Police Say Nine Killed in Deadly Crash at Reno Air Show, as Probe Focuses on Wayward Part

Foxnews ^ | 9/17/2011 | AP

[Ron C.]

RENO, Nev. – The death toll in the crash of a World War II-era plane during a Reno air race rose to nine people Saturday as investigators combed through wreckage and scoured amateur video clips to determine why the aircraft suddenly spiraled out of control and plummeted to the ground near hundreds of spectators.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/17/federal-investigators-looking-into-what-caused-deadly-crash-at-air-show/#ixzz1YGNn9wu6

[Ron C.]

It appears that earlier estimates of 12 dead may have been more accurate than thought.

[Ron C.]

At that link can be found video that shows a single photograph of the tail section of the plane. The photo plainly shows part of the left elevator detached from, but not completely separated from the plane.

I could not capture that frame for display here.

[ColdOne]

I is terrible to see so many deaths at this race. I am a avid plane lover. WWII birds the best.

[mowowie]

This was a horrible accident.
The Pilot from what i have read was and expert aviator.
From what i have read from experts the pilot actually performed a manuver during the crash to save the grandstand and hundreds of lives.
RIP

It seems lately that there have been a lot of mishaps at these air shows in recent times.
Very dangerous stunts involved.
I’m thinking i’ll just watch this crazy stuff on tv on my couch and just hope a camera lens doesn’t come crashing through my roof.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

I’m no real expert but it appears to be a broken trim tab. But whatever broke that could be indicative of a bigger unseen malfunction.

I don’t know if they are hydraulic or mechanical.

Do we have any experts on these modernized P51’s?

[ColdOne]

I will add a good friend of my hubby’s died at that race years ago.

[50mm]

Here's a screen capture of the damaged elevator:

[the invisib1e hand]

Probe Focuses on Wayward Part

I should hope so.

[mowowie]

I have a question.
Proper Trim on a plane means that when you take your hands and feet off the controls the plane will fly flat and straight.
I think. :)
If he lost his trim (If it’s even what i am thinking) Wouldn’t and expert such as the pilot just compensate for it?
Another theory i read is he took the corner so tight and fast he may have blacked out momentarily.

Prayers for all involved.

[Ron C.]

I read that... he indeed did all he could to save others.

[Fundamentally Fair]

Wow...that’s a convenient piece of evidence.

[wolficatZ]

North American P-51 Mustang NX79111 “The Galloping Ghost”

http://www.airteamimages.com/aviation_news.php?id=29

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e60_W4tuTNI

[Ron C.]

'trim tab' - yes, part of the elevator system. What gets me is that the elevators appear frozen at mid point. The fact that that piece trails behind may have created enough force that he could not pull the plane out of the dive... BUT, that he was able to pull the plane into a steep climb to begin the maneuver to avoid hitting the stands contradicts that thought.

Perhaps forward speed was simply not enough after that climb to push the tail down to avoid the crash. So sad...

[cannon fodder]

From building R/C planes I know that poor aerodynamics on the elevator can cause it to flutter and self destruct. I wonder if the trim piece caused the damage or was a symptom?

[Ron C.]

“avid plane lover” - me too, grew up around many...

[Ron C.]

Thanks for that, 50mm!

[TankerKC]

If he lost his trim (If it’s even what i am thinking) Wouldn’t and expert such as the pilot just compensate for it?

Probably. I'm not sure how a P-52 works, but the tab may have been a control tab. Loss of a control tab (especially low to the ground) could make moving the elevators very difficult...or impossible.

[ColdOne]

My fave is the p-51 right after the SR-71 Blackbird.

[USNBandit]

If the tab failed as it appeared to do the pilot would encounter a sudden aft stick force. I have never flown a P-51 so I don’t know what the control forces are like in that aircraft.

[rlmorel]

I could be wrong (and someone tell me if I am) but those planes are high performance, operating at the edge...traveling at that speed, that close to the ground and losing a trim tab probably makes the plane just a tad unstable.