Tragic Reno Air Race Crash | Forums

[Stiletto-]

Unfortunately today a Mustang crashed into a grand stand area at the Reno Air Races. 75 people injured, don't know if any were fatalities. A sad day for avaitation.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories...l/main20107634.shtml

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTzX35wOGas

[Stiletto-]

Unfortunately today a Mustang crashed into a grand stand area at the Reno Air Races. 75 people injured, don't know if any were fatalities. A sad day for avaitation.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories...l/main20107634.shtml

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTzX35wOGas

[Stiletto-]

I don't usually like to speculate but I guess I am going to do so anyways.

I believe the pilot was 80 years old, that's far too old to be doing air races. I am wondering if he had a heart attack or something of similar nature with the way he pulled up and rolled it on its back, bringing the nose back towards the ground.

[AndyJWest]

The BBC is reporting three killed - though I suspect that the total may turn out to be greater: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14957437

I think that out of common decency we should try to keep speculation to a minimum regarding the possible causes, and instead confine ourselves to offering condolences to the victims, and to their families. Causes can be debated later, when the facts are at hand.

[danjama]

I agree with Andy.

However, it should be noted that the pilot called a Mayday before pulling up. Then, well, we all saw what followed. The pull-up is apparently standard procedure to exit the traffic, it went wrong from there somehow.

In my opinion, a man's age should not conclude him from doing any activity. His health...yes. But not age alone. I'm guessing he was fit and healthy, otherwise he would not have been in the air.

[danjama]

Here's an article:

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation...ems-may-1182917.html

The Pilot was 74.

[Bearcat99]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Stiletto-:
I don't usually like to speculate but I guess I am going to do so anyways.

I believe the pilot was 80 years old, that's far too old to be doing air races. I am wondering if he had a heart attack or something of similar nature with the way he pulled up and rolled it on its back, bringing the nose back towards the ground. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree.. although from what I understand Jimmy Leeward the pilot was experienced and a very good pilot. Who knows what caused it.. At least 3 are dead ... 25 serious.. 25 critical... not to mention the traumatized... and the loss of another Mustang. Very sad news. I was just looking at this.

[M2morris]

They were lucky not to have any fire.
The news media are exploiting this to the point that it makes me sick, and not to mention the idiotic youtube scene. I will turn my back on both now as respect for the people who were killed or injured.

[Wildnoob]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Stiletto-:
I believe the pilot was 80 years old, that's far too old to be doing air races. I am wondering if he had a heart attack or something of similar nature with the way he pulled up and rolled it on its back, bringing the nose back towards the ground. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Out of my area to comment anything.

By the way, Bud Anderson is still flying? Not so long ago I read he working as a civlian flight instructor, and the guy is already 89!

[Stiletto-]

Civil flying at an old age and racing a P-51 at high speeds and extreme g-forces very close to the ground next to a large group of people are 2 completely different things and can not be compared in any way.

the CBS article said he was 80 but that was wrong, he was 74. You guys are right though, no need to speculate on the cause of accident. It very well could have been and probably was a mechanical failure.