Reno Race Accident Investigation Continues

Aero News Network ^ | Mon, Sep 19, 2011 | staff

[Atlas Sneezed]

Note the “vapor” behind the the wing root. It would make me think the angle of attack was very high at that time.

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I’ve seen that in high humidity low altitude situations, but this was in the arid high altitude environment of Reno.

[New Perspective]

Are you speaking of the Oswego Il site

No, just this site but I will go check out that one. Thanks Again

[FReepaholic]

Looks almost overcast at the time of the crash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCNePeKn3Tg

[mad_as_he$$]

I was not the first one to question the photo which is the one that shows the plane over the crowd about 30 feet. There also was some others where other FReepers were saying they were shopped. The rear wheel out being their main point. It has since some out that the retaining pin for the rear wheel is known to fail at 7-8g’s. I showed to today to the guy I know who was very close to the spot the picture was taken from. He said it was not accurate (understanding he is very traumatized by the event).

There is a new video out today that is indisputable.

It was cloudier than I recall at the time of the crash.

http://www.ktvn.com/category/170899/video-landing-page?clipId=&topVideoCatNo=90460&topVideoCatNoB=170902&topVideoCatNoC=108651&topVideoCatNoD=170903&topVideoCatNoE=170904&clipId=6270026&topVideoCatNo=90460&autoStart=true

However, it blew out shortly thereafter.

[zipper]

Yes that’s true. His posture is less than optimum in that shot, if that’s even him, and if it was that day, at Reno flying the Galloping Ghost.

Rumor has it Leeward didn’t like shoulder harnesses — if so, it’s probably because he was fond of leaning forward so he could get a better view of the pylons, the ground, other aircraft, etc., or so he could turn his head close to the canopy to look behind him all the way to the five or seven o’clock positions. That’s all great until you get a sudden, unexpected g-loading. Then the slightest angle from the vertical with your spine can lead to involuntary contact with other parts of the airplane — including the stick or maybe the headrest (less likely since it’s positioned near the vertical). Of course this aircraft was not equipped with an ejection seat but what happened to Leeward, if my theory is correct, can be compared to being in an improper posture at the moment of ejection. Bad things happen.

These details are important. If he was not wearing his shoulder harnesses then it will be argued that he bears at least partial liability in the accident, since the shoulder harnesses may have factored in to whether the airplane rolled or not (it did, to the right, toward the crowd). And the shoulder harnesses may have prevented him from collapsing into the controls after he lost consciousness, even though typically they are ‘unlocked’ for flight (meaning they only lock if there is a rapid acceleration against them, otherwise they have a light spring load).

This story is far from over, as we advance to the litigation phase.

[I cannot think of a name]

I had previously downloaded and done some image enhancement on the photo in 103. He is definitely wearing a shoulder harness, although it is a typical corporate or airline type (not a four point). The two shoulder straps join in a V and I suspect connect to an inertia reel. That set-up really only does any good for forward impacts.

[Nailbiter]

Sorry just looked at my reply- that should have been th B17 creas in Oswego IL- happened in June 13th.
Your earlier description fit this crash