Major Plane Crash at Reno Air Races Many dead [NTSB Update: 11 Dead; Over 50 Injured]]

16 Sep 2011 | vanity

[PilotDave]

A P-51 crashed into a vip area at the reno air races about 25. Initial reports indicate many deaths.

[Shyla]

She is fine. Sad but fine.

[txhurl]

You’re not going to like it.

[Shyla]

DD is fine : )

[DJlaysitup]

Post the name of the unconfirmed person who may have been in attendance at the time of the crash.

From what I have heard it is very ironic...and sad. (of course it is very sad for all killed and injured)

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Our nation has just seen its last air race. This sport will be shut down permanently and the lawsuits will drain the funds. MANY FAA regs were violated at this event (flying over crowds, flying directly at crowds, minimum altitudes for airshow passes, etc.). Bad, very bad.

[xjcsa]

Rumor is all over the scene but I could not get an official confirmation.

I'm about 99.9% sure those rumors started as a joke due to the pilot's age. We would have other sources by now if it was true.

[Inyo-Mono]

Really?

[Shyla]

Ironic? Please, do tell.

[PilotDave]

“MANY FAA regs were violated at this event (flying over crowds, flying directly at crowds, minimum altitudes for airshow passes, etc.). Bad, very bad.”

There were no FAA regs broken at this show regarding this event. As a airshow waiver holder myself I can promise you that. There are a ton of regs for any airshow. The FAA was in attendance and performed the pilot briefings prior to the show. This was just real bad luck on the timing of the failure.. If you can’t fly toward the crowd, how can you ever get back to the crowd?

[John W]

It seems to be a secret.

[rawhide]

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybgd0EfxWCI

[Okieshooter]

I hope you are right, but the my source, although not confimed leads me to believe it is not a joke. I know that many on here are frustrated that we will not reveal the name. We are also very frustrated that we have been unable to confirm. If it turns out to be true am am sure those that wanted to know will understand why we wanted to be sure.

I am hoping it is not true.

[xjcsa]

I hope you are right, but the my source, although not confimed leads me to believe it is not a joke.

The only place I saw it was in the comments section on the first YouTube video (since pulled). Given that the average YouTube comment poster has an IQ of about 3, I didn't trust it, and someone else suggested that it was just a joke because the pilot was old (i.e. the "VIP" was the pilot). Ha ha.

Agreed that we shouldn't mention the name - too much of a flap over what is probably nothing, in my view, and if it's actually true this isn't the way to break the news.

But again, I'm convinced it's not true.

[MplsSteve]

OK, I understand your desire to not want to spread rumors that may not be true. I do have two quick questions though...

Is the person in question a Democrat or Republican?

Is the person in question a current or former officeholder?

[Candor7]

Ping to vid feed

[txhurl]

You’re convinced it’s not true? Thank God.

I was really unnerved there for a while.

[Mat_Helm]

Two images from yahoo site just before impact. Interesting in the first picture taken as he was inverted and rolling it appears that the left stabilizer trim tab is missing. In the final picture vertical before impact the rear tail wheel is out and with little exhaust he pulled the power back.

He was conscious after the turn because he called out a mayday knowing he had trouble. The Mustang pulled into the vertical and barrel rolled toward the stands. So he pulled back power but the engine was operating. A high speed stall or loss of elevator command could explain loss of pitch control. The pictures show that the ailerons were set for a left roll.

[lwoodham]

I wonder how many are like me and have their curiosities peaked to the max and are lurking hoping someone tells. I also wonder how many know and refuse to tell. It’s like the unstoppable force against the unmovable object. Something has to give.

[txhurl]

One of FR’s best sources:

---

To: nuconvert
I was at the races today and sit in the box seats about 40 -50 yards from where the plane went in. We dodged shrapnel and weren’t hit. A guy two boxes down was being given CPR. My take on the accident is this: Galloping Ghost was rounding pylon eight and appeared to get hit by wake turbulence which caused him to roll up off the course and upside down.

He crossed the deadline, heard the engine surge twice and he was on a downward trajectory. At first I thought he was going in behind the grandstands but he rolled it back to the airfield. For a moment I was looking right down his spinner.

We thought he was going to land on us but we got lucky. There was no explosion. We dodged some flying shrapnel and stuff that was rolling down the aisle

If there was mechanical problems it picked the worst time to happen.

I met Jimmy many times and I feel like I have lost a friend. It’s devastating

51 posted on Sat Sep 17 2011 00:13:09 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) by hattend (If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead. - Cameron Connor)

[FourPeas]

*whew*