Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Police Say Nine Killed in Deadly Crash at Reno Air Show, as Probe Focuses on Wayward Part
Foxnews ^ | 9/17/2011 | AP

Posted on 09/17/2011 6:31:59 PM PDT by 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

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Nevada
KEYWORDS: airshow; crash; deaths; deathtoll; ntsb; planecrash; renoairraces
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-83 next last
To: bootless; org.whodat
This pilot was no “driver.”

Though org.whodat did post a most asinine comment, I derived his useless comment directed at the mechanic in particular and agism in general. In the Army, I had much respect for "drivers", be it C-140, 131, A-10, Blackhawk or Chinook, etc. Called them that to their face, quipped, and more often than not, reached for a barf bag.... Not standard equipment! lol

61 posted on 09/17/2011 11:19:59 PM PDT by Mensius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: bootless

Poor thing, old metal is old metal. You have two options, one metal fatigue. And/or someone left the wobbling pin out of the wiggling shaft. What a waste of life.


62 posted on 09/17/2011 11:22:25 PM PDT by org.whodat (so Perry's purchase price starts at $5001.00: and $29,000 , was a sell.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Mensius

What in the world is wrong with the term driver, damn, that was a standard name, when I was in the airforce.


63 posted on 09/17/2011 11:25:15 PM PDT by org.whodat (so Perry's purchase price starts at $5001.00: and $29,000 , was a sell.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat
Nothing is wrong with the term "driver". I was referring to your flippant comment on the "old" mechanic, or if you will, "wrench". Didn't mean to cast aspersions so much, but I have been on FR recently and you have been a regular at inflammatory remarks. Just sayin'

But thank you for your service, this from an infantry guy.

64 posted on 09/17/2011 11:33:28 PM PDT by Mensius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Mensius

It was not an inflammatory remark, and someone messed up here and the result is a whole lot of dead people.


65 posted on 09/17/2011 11:38:05 PM PDT by org.whodat (so Perry's purchase price starts at $5001.00: and $29,000 , was a sell.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat
and someone messed up here and the result is a whole lot of dead people.

Every pilot I have personally known had above average character and innate skill. I would attribute the "cause" to mechanical failure first. I certainly wouldn't jump to the conclusion that human error was the cause. Surely it "may" have contributed, but the "driver" was a professional as well as his crew.

Just for curiosities sake, what do you make of the rear landing gear being deployed? Was this a pilot action or mere inertial happenstance?

66 posted on 09/17/2011 11:46:38 PM PDT by Mensius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Ron C.
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.

Another poster commented that an expert pilot should be able to compensate, and I think the last second maneuver which kept him out of the stands was that compensation. It takes a moment to realize the plane is not responding to control as it should, and he had very little time to try to correct his flight path.

I do not consider myself an expert on aviation by any standard, but the additional drag by the trailing trim tab on the elevator and the loss of effective control surface may have thwarted his efforts to get the plane up.

67 posted on 09/18/2011 12:36:02 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Ron C.

So sad. Prayers of healing, and comfort for those suffering.


68 posted on 09/18/2011 12:37:39 AM PDT by Just mythoughts (Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mensius

Why do you not have concern for the people killed instead of the damn plane. Dang!


69 posted on 09/18/2011 4:53:09 AM PDT by org.whodat (so Perry's purchase price starts at $5001.00: and $29,000 , was a sell.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat
Why do you not have concern for the people killed instead of the damn plane. Dang!

I focused on the plane because YOU assigned blame to the "old guy and his old mechanic".

Are you grieving for the loss of everyone who was killed in auto accidents that day? Yesterday? Drownings?

70 posted on 09/18/2011 8:25:40 AM PDT by Mensius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: Mensius; org.whodat

As the daughter of a WWII B-17 pilot and a much lower time pilot myself, I understand how “driver” is used. It can also be used to minimize the skill required to fly a plane of this caliber under these conditions. It seems I misread your use of it, and for that, I apologize.

I still have a problem with your comment about the mechanic.

And thank you for your service.


71 posted on 09/18/2011 12:01:12 PM PDT by bootless (Never Forget. Never Again. (PursuingLiberty.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: Mensius

I don’t know if the tailwheel had a feature to deploy under certain G-loads, or whether the pilot deployed it to increase drag. The P-51 has a dive speed of about 500 kt. or so, and I’m pretty sure he was well above the max speed for lowering his mains.

I also don’t know what sort of mods were made to Jimmy’s plane - it should be easy enough to find out. I’d be surprised if the original aluminum skins were on it, though, for Unlimited racing.

The pull-up, I’ve heard from friends who race, is the standard way for a pilot in trouble to depart the race course, turning airspeed into altitude.


72 posted on 09/18/2011 12:05:34 PM PDT by bootless (Never Forget. Never Again. (PursuingLiberty.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat
If you think these people just dust off a 60 year old fighter and go racing you don't know your ass from a hole in the ground....stick to what you know....

Signed...60 year old Airframe & Powerplant mechanic

73 posted on 09/18/2011 12:12:56 PM PDT by Niteflyr ("The number one goal in life is to parent yourself" Carl Jung)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: bootless
Those old, WWII, vets were pilots, the few amount many. Today's pilots, well they are getting replaced by computers. And my oldest brother was KIA in WWII.
74 posted on 09/18/2011 1:20:36 PM PDT by org.whodat (so Perry's purchase price starts at $5001.00: and $29,000 , was a sell.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat

I’m very sorry to hear about your brother, and am grateful for his service. What branch did he serve in?


75 posted on 09/18/2011 2:27:19 PM PDT by bootless (Never Forget. Never Again. (PursuingLiberty.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: bootless

Navy, seabees


76 posted on 09/18/2011 2:31:08 PM PDT by org.whodat (so Perry's purchase price starts at $5001.00: and $29,000 , was a sell.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat

Very tough work, and indispensable. Thank you.


77 posted on 09/18/2011 2:37:36 PM PDT by bootless (Never Forget. Never Again. (PursuingLiberty.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: Seaplaner

Even with a huge onset rate he should have had 6-9 sec. of useful consciousness. At 450 kts. an abrupt maneuver would be a lot of G if you weren’t expecting it. It could easily slam your head down if you were already leaned forward.


78 posted on 09/18/2011 7:49:56 PM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: USNBandit
From AvWeb:

There was an incident during the 1998 Reno Air Races in which a trim tab came off a P-51 named Voodoo Chile.

In that incident, also mentioned in AVweb's coverage, the aircraft pitched violently up, causing pilot Bob Hannah to black out under a G load estimated at 10 Gs.

He regained consciousness at 9,000 feet and was able to land safely.

79 posted on 09/19/2011 6:28:29 AM PDT by GBA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: GBA

It surprises me that his sudden pitch up would last long enough to black out, but if he was already loaded and then spiked on 10 g’s all bets are off. I’ve been to the races and seen the course from the air, but never flown it myself. All my experience is from flying fighters. I spent most of my career flying “over the hill” in Fallon.


80 posted on 09/19/2011 5:04:32 PM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-83 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson