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NTSB: Plane that crashed at air race had camera
AP ^ | 9-18-2011

Posted on 09/18/2011 4:05:10 PM PDT by Petruchio

RENO, Nevada (AP) — A World War II-era plane had a video camera facing outward, and memory cards were found at the scene where it crashed near a grandstand in Reno. It raises the possibility of video of the crash that killed nine, including the pilot.

[snip]

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Nevada
KEYWORDS: aviation; reno
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Also, They released the identities of two of the spectators killed in the accident.

Michael Wogan, 22, of Scottsdale, Arizona Greg Morcom of Washington state

1 posted on 09/18/2011 4:05:16 PM PDT by Petruchio
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To: Petruchio

Poor guys. What a way to go!


2 posted on 09/18/2011 4:08:46 PM PDT by Palladin (Sarah: Fencesitters get splinters (you know where)!)
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To: Palladin

I don’t know . . . Events happened so fast I think they were gone before they knew what happened.


3 posted on 09/18/2011 4:11:21 PM PDT by Petruchio (I Think . . . Therefor I FReep.)
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To: Petruchio

Nothing like a little carnage video for the MSM to use to help the victims of the Baraqqi Depression momentarily forget their plight.....


4 posted on 09/18/2011 4:13:04 PM PDT by nascarnation
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To: Petruchio
After viewing all the shot up birds making it home to merry old England after WW II, hard to fathom on coming straight down due to a bend off adjuster bit on one elevator.

What shutter speed would stop that prop at that speed?

5 posted on 09/18/2011 4:13:50 PM PDT by de.rm ('Most people never believe anything you tell them unless it isn't true."-Groucho Marx)
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To: Palladin

I feel for the dead, but even more for the living-some of the injuries must be horrific.


6 posted on 09/18/2011 4:13:56 PM PDT by tanuki (O-voters: wanted Uberman, got Underdog....)
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To: Petruchio

Ugh, I hope this isn’t released to become some morbid viral video thrill.

The two old people and the webcam is bad enough.


7 posted on 09/18/2011 4:15:51 PM PDT by VanDeKoik (1 million in stimulus dollars paid for this tagline!)
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To: Petruchio

A friend of mine sent me some pictures of the plane showing what appears to be the pilot slumped over in the seat after the plane went through the high G maneuvers. So it is “possible” he did pass out and might have been unconscious when the plane hit the ground. We will have to wait for the final report.

As has been reported this plane has been highly modified with the wings being recently shortened 5 feet per side plus trimming of the tail section for additional air speed. Again we will have to wait on the final report.


8 posted on 09/18/2011 4:16:42 PM PDT by Parley Baer
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To: Parley Baer
As has been reported this plane has been highly modified with the wings being recently shortened 5 feet per side plus trimming of the tail section for additional air speed. Again we will have to wait on the final report.

Just a fraction of what they do to the Reno Racers to extract every ouce of speed out of them. The lame streams are so lame when it come to technical issues such as motorsports and aviation, IMHO they are clueless...

9 posted on 09/18/2011 4:20:51 PM PDT by taildragger (( Palin / Mulally 2012 ))
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To: Parley Baer

There are credible reports that he called ‘mayday’ prior to the crash.

It also appears the pilot is directing the plane away from the grandstand. Its highly doubtful he passed out.

The plane was modified, including shortening the wings.


10 posted on 09/18/2011 4:24:58 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: tanuki

Yes, true. May God be with them in their ordeal.


11 posted on 09/18/2011 4:31:26 PM PDT by Palladin (Sarah: Fencesitters get splinters (you know where)!)
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To: de.rm
After viewing all the shot up birds making it home to merry old England after WW II, hard to fathom on coming straight down due to a bend off adjuster bit on one elevator.

You’re correct that little bit normally should not cause a crash.

However this was no longer a standard P51. It had been modified for racing which made it more responsive to stick and rudder controls. Meaning it reacted quicker to changes in the wing and tail control surface positions.

The way I interpret this article is that the loss of the trim tab caused the plane to pitch nose up then either the pilot’s reaction to the plane’s unexpected maneuver caused the crash or that the pilot was unable to react in time and the plane then dove in to the ground.

The real difference between the WW II planes ability to survive the damage they received in combat and this racing plane to be honest is altitude. Had this plane been at 25,000 feet when it lost its trim tab the pilot would have had time to recover. Pilots say that altitude is insurance.

12 posted on 09/18/2011 4:32:53 PM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: Petruchio
Years ago I had a friend who flew in these air shows. He had his plane upside down with an open cockpit close to the runway...I guess a wind came up drove the plane down and he bounced a few times hitting the runway. To say the least it killed him his head was crushed. I don't remember since he was dead if the non pilot plane killed any spectators.
13 posted on 09/18/2011 4:40:53 PM PDT by shield (Rev 2:9 Woe unto those who say they are Judahites and are not, but are of the syna GOG ue of Satan.)
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To: driftdiver

“There are credible reports that he called ‘mayday’ prior to the crash”

Yes, I have heard those reports myself. However at the NTSB news conference they could not confirm those reports. So far no real evidence has surfaced on the mayday broadcast by the pilot. We will have to wait and see.


14 posted on 09/18/2011 4:42:02 PM PDT by Parley Baer
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To: Petruchio

The only video card of interest is probably the one that was in the camera. I can’t imagine being cool headed enough to swap out a video card when you’re ABOUT... TO... CRASH!!!


15 posted on 09/18/2011 4:44:12 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (There's gonna be a Redneck Revolution! (See my freep page) [rednecks come in many colors])
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To: Petruchio

Yeah, I was wondering if a person had time to get out of the seat and move out of danger. I saw a close up of the crash.

No, they did not have time to move.


16 posted on 09/18/2011 4:45:27 PM PDT by BunnySlippers
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To: Petruchio

Are they monkeying around with the chemistry of Avgas?


17 posted on 09/18/2011 4:55:10 PM PDT by Proud2BeRight
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To: Petruchio

I notice on the picture that the tailwheel seems to be down. Anyone care to speculate on why?


18 posted on 09/18/2011 4:57:40 PM PDT by Grut
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To: driftdiver

He didn’t direct the plane away. When his P-51 went vertical he rolled right 90 which took him toward the stands. It would have been better if he had rolled left.


19 posted on 09/18/2011 4:57:58 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

People in the stands indicate it was originally headed directly toward the stands. The roll could have been due to the missing trim tab.


20 posted on 09/18/2011 5:01:08 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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