Thanks for that link TTN. That thread had a vid of the prang. Why the sudden pull up nobody knows as yet (not a cue for any speculation - leave that for the other thread).
My reference to crass remarks was prompted by a highly offensive post on the other thread to the effect that as the pilot was a wealthy Florida estate agent (or somesuch) what did you expect. I see that that post has been removed, either by the mods, or by the poster, stung by the reaction his remarks got. Either way I am pleased to see it has gone.
I stand by my remarks on ill-informed speculation. The closest thing to a P51 I have flown is a Cessna 172, hence I have refrained from venturing an opinion on this accident. I suspect that some of those speculating about the causes are even less qualified than I am.
I do know that from knowing pilots that do race at Reno that when any pilot encounters a problem, mechanical or other wise, SOP is to pull up and then leave race course/circuit.
So the pull up could have been intentional. I'll make no other speculation on the cause of the accident.
Now, it is sad to note that some politicians are already jumping on the band wagon to either close the Reno Air Races or move the spectators so far away that could barely see the aircraft.
It is tragic that three people plus the pilot were killed, but we need to be realistic here. Since 1964 there has not been anyone but a very few pilots have been killed, until now. So for forty seven (47) years no spectator has been injured or killed out of the million and millions of spectators that have attended the Reno Air Races. I cannot think of any higher odds of someone getting killed than those. Something like a billion to one chance?
I believe the LA Times has a very high quality still pic showing the entire aircraft along with an obvious missing elevator tab as it was heading down.
RIP
(edited, pics and discussion about this in other thread)
I believe the LA Times has a very high quality still pic showing the entire aircraft along with an obvious missing elevator tab as it was heading down.
SOP indeed, leave the circuit immediately, a climb if possible. On top of that, this gent may have been using the tab for a bit of NU cheat, needing a constant push to stay low to the ground, a good and safe practice. However, if the Tab departs, the A/C will drop like a stone, and he may have pulled way too much to stay alive. In the ensuing ascent, he may have gone unconscious, or even broken his neck in the g's that followed. The roll inverted looked gentle, but was obviously not the thing to do, so my guess is he was out like a light from the loss of tab on.
I was present for Steve Hinton's prang; this kind of flying is perhaps the most dangerous kind there is. Wicked exciting, and the noise is exquisite. So, I think Reno stays on the schedule; all present were grown up and knew the risk, (one hopes and prays there were no children among the dead/injured).
The pilot of a post-World War II plane died Saturday after crashing into a runway and bursting into flames, the second deadly air show crash in 24 hours.
The West Virginia Air National Guard said that no spectators were injured and that the crash site was far away from anyone at the show. Still, air show officials posted a notice on their website encouraging those who witnessed the crash to seek support if they felt viewing it had been traumatic.
The crash occurred a day after a stunt pilot crashed at a Nevada air show Friday, killing nine.
