Stunning New Video Shows Much Closer View of Ground Impact and Debris Cloud in Reno Crash
- Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:52am by
Scott Baker
- Print »
- Email »
RENO, Nev. (AP) — As thousands watched in horror, a World War II-era fighter plane competing in a Nevada event described as a car race in the sky suddenly pitched upward, rolled and did a nose-dive toward the crowded grandstand.
The plane, flown by a 74-year-old veteran Hollywood stunt pilot, then slammed into the concrete in a section of VIP box seats and blew to pieces in front the pilot’s family and a tight-knit group of friends who attend the annual event in Reno.
AP
“It absolutely disintegrated,” said Tim O’Brien of Grass Valley Calif., who attends the races every year. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
Three people were killed and more than 50 injured amid a horrific scene strewn with smoking debris.
Authorities say it appears a mechanical failure with the P-51 Mustang — a class of fighter plane that can fly in excess of 500 mph — was to blame. Some credit the pilot, Jimmy Leeward, with preventing the crash from being far more deadly.
Leeward was among those killed.
“If he wouldn’t have pulled up, he would have taken out the entire bleacher section,” said Tim Linville, 48, of Reno, who watched the race with his two daughters.
Left in its wake were bloodied bodies spread across the area as people tended to the victims and ambulances rushed to the scene. Video of the aftermath shows a man with his leg severed at the knee.
The National Championship Air Races have been deadly before. Two pilots died at the event in 1994. And organizers softened two of the curves pilots negotiate after two more pilots crashed into nearby neighborhoods in 1998 and 1999.
In 2007 and 2008, four pilots were killed at the races, prompting local school officials to consider barring student field trips to the event.
Planes at the yearly event fly wingtip-to-wingtip as low as 50 feet off the sagebrush at speeds sometimes surpassing 500 mph. Pilots follow an oval path around pylons, with distances and speeds depending on the class of aircraft.
Mike Houghton, president and CEO of Reno Air Races, said at a news conference hours after the crash that there appeared to be a “problem with the aircraft that caused it to go out of control.” He did not elaborate.
He said the rest of the races have been canceled as the National Transportation Safety Board investigates.
“The way I see it, if he did do something about this, he saved hundreds if not thousands of lives because he was able to veer that plane back toward the tarmac,” said Johnny Norman, who was at the show.
O’Brien, who is chairman of an air show in his hometown in California, was photographing Friday’s races when the crash occurred.
He said the P-51 Mustang was racing six other planes, and was in the process of moving from third place into second, when it pitched violently upward, rolled and then headed straight down.
From the photos he took, O‘Brien said it looked like a piece of the plane’s tail called a “trim tab” had fallen off. He believes that‘s what caused the plane’s sudden climb.
When the aircraft hit the ground, there was a “big explosion but no fire,” O’Brien said.
“The propeller (was) spinning very fast, and there was a lot of mass coming down all at once,” he said. It was a “very violent impact.”
Afterward, a number of people were standing around, and “all we could do was hug each other,” he said.
Maureen Higgins of Alabama, who has been coming to the air races for 16 years, said the pilot was on his third lap when he lost control.
“Obviously he had no control. He was wobbling. He went upside down and then he headed straight for us, straight at the grandstand.”
She was sitting about 30 yards away from the crash and watched in horror as the man in front of her started bleeding after debris hit him in the head.
“I saw body parts and gore like you wouldn’t believe it. I’m talking an arm, a leg,“ Higgins said ”The alive people were missing body parts. I am not kidding you. It was gore. Unbelievable gore.”
Renown Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Kathy Carter confirmed that two others besides the pilot died, but did not provide their identities.
Stephanie Kruse, a spokeswoman for the Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority, told The Associated Press that emergency crews took a total of 56 injury victims to three hospitals. She said they also observed a number of people being transported by private vehicle, and those people were not included in the count.
Kruse said of the total 56, at the time of transport, 15 were considered in critical condition, 13 were serious condition with potentially life-threatening injuries and 28 were non-serious or non-life threatening.
“This is a very large incident, probably one of the largest this community has seen in decades,” Kruse told The Associated Press. “The community is pulling together to try to deal with the scope of it. The hospitals have certainly geared up and staffed up to deal with it.”
Gov. Brian Sandoval noted at a news conference that area hospitals were in need of blood in the wake of the crash, and he encouraged people to donate.
Among the dead was Leeward, of Ocala, Fla., a veteran airman and movie stunt pilot who named his P-51 Mustang fighter plane the “Galloping Ghost,” according to Mike Houghton, president and CEO of Reno Air Races. Officials earlier said Leeward was 80.
Leeward, the owner of the Leeward Air Ranch Racing Team, was a well-known racing pilot. His website says he has flown more than 120 races and served as a stunt pilot for numerous movies, including “Amelia” and “Cloud Dancer.”
In an interview with the Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner last year, he described how he has flown 250 types of planes and has a particular fondness for the P-51, which came into the war relatively late and was used as a long-range bomber escort over Europe. Among the famous pilots of the hot new fighter was WWII double ace Chuck Yeager.
“They’re more fun. More speed, more challenge. Speed, speed and more speed,” Leeward said.
Leeward talked about racing strategy in an interview Thursday with LiveAirShow TV while standing in front of his plane.
“Right now I think we’ve calculated out, we’re as fast as anybody in the field, or maybe even a little faster,” he said. “But uh, to start with, we didn’t really want to show our hand until about Saturday or Sunday. We’ve been playing poker since last Monday. And uh so, it’s ready, we’re ready to show a couple more cards, so we’ll see on Friday what happens, and on Saturday we’ll probably go ahead and play our third ace, and on Sunday we’ll do our fourth ace.”
Houghton described Leeward as a good friend.
“Everybody knows him. It’s a tight-knit family. He’s been here for a long, long time,” Houghton said.
He also said Leeward was a “very qualified, very experienced pilot” who was in good medical condition. He suggested Leeward would have made every effort to avoid casualties on the ground if he knew he was going to crash.
“If it was in Jimmy’s power, he would have done everything he possibly could,” Houghton said.
The National Championship Air Races draws thousands of people to Reno every September to watch various military and civilian planes race.
The FAA and air race organizers spend months preparing for air races as they develop a plan involving pilot qualification, training and testing along with a layout for the course. The FAA inspects pilots’ practice runs and brief pilots on the route maneuvers and emergency procedures.
Sen. Harry Reid, Rep. Mark Amodei and other officials issued statements Friday saying they were shocked and saddened by the crash.
“My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives and with those who were wounded in this horrific tragedy,” Reid said. “I am so grateful to our first responders for their swift action and will continue to monitor this situation as it develops.”
___
Associated Press writers Cristina Silva and Oskar Garcia in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 586 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 413 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 370 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 413 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 370 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (111)
Fitz Gerald
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 1:18pmIf you are ok then move away from the scene? If I am ok, then I am staying to help and comfort the injured. To hell with the announcer.
Report Post »Tribal Warrior
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 1:41pmYou ain’t kiddin Fitzgerald, dang If I’m OK, I’m flippin helping those people who are hurt. There isn’t near enough EMT members there to help all those people at the point of infliction. Stay where you are? Really WTH announcer get your A$$ off the speakers and go help those people you moron. That‘s what’d I say to the announcer.
Report Post »J4Y
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:44pmMan that video is shocking… my thoughts and prayers to everyone everyone affected by this accident.
Report Post »Avi8or
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 7:45pmAs both a professional pilot, and as a EMS responder, my heart breaks. This sort of thing makes me appreciate the people I fly with, and the people I run on the ambulance with, even more.
Oh, and as far as “Move away from the scene”, that’s standard triage protocol. Walking wounded is what we call people that are hurt, but not badly. Or a “green”, which is the color they get on the triage tag. By walking away, it helps us better figure out who is a yellow and red. And in this case, a black.
Report Post »Pastor Melissa
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 8:52pmThanks Avi8or. I was thinking the same thing as the above respondents. I would want to help. It is nice to know getting away is an immediate form of helping. If you are first aid/CPR certified do you know who you would go to so you could help once the Check of hurt and wounded was done?
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:33pmYou guys are morons.
Report Post »The point of that was to keep from panic and hysteria.
The point was also to clear the area so medics could move in more quickly.
Obviously, if you were able to help, then great. But elderly or families with small children who were unharmed, clearing the way only helps get attention to those in need that much quicker with less foot traffic in the way to maneuver around.
Avi8or
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:56pmPASTOR MELISSA:
If you have medical training, I’d say get in touch with an EMS/fire person and ask where the ICP (Incident command post) is. They run the whole scene from there, and there would be someone to answer any questions or direct you where to go to help. In a major situation like this, though, they’ll have every available EMS/fire unit in the area responding already, and the medical side of things will be taken care of. (Not to discourage you from helping…) Something as small as passing out water makes a big difference, so if you have a heart to serve, see if you can get plugged in somewhere.
Report Post »Pastor Melissa
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 4:21pmAvi8or- Thank you
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 1:07pmI can’t wait till they give me a pilots license when I can barely walk. How exciting.
Report Post »Tmorg
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 1:28pmHey, jerk, get a life!
Report Post »lastoftheamericans
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 1:49pmA 74 year old stunt pilot? hmm Do you really think his body is able to handle the G forces? This has been in debate for a long time, when do we take drivers license? I’m not telling you that you cannot do it, but is it a good idea? His estate should pay for ALL costs involved in the crash since he was soo confident. He is way too old to be a commecial pilot, no way the military would let him in an aircraft so why is he flying in an airshow?
Report Post »Xkiller
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 1:51pmIdiot….FAA rules have to mediacally qualify these pilots. They just don’t give anybody a license. If you look at the video and have any knowledge of planes, it looks like there waas a problem that ended with a smoking hole.
Report Post »This guy was an experienced pilot and racer. So shut the hell up till you know what the problem was.
UnPlugged Ed
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 6:23pmTmorg- YOU are the “jerk”
Xkiller- YOU are the “idiot”
period.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:35pmThe pilots age or ability to handle G force is clearly not the issue. The plane was physically compromised.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:37pmThoreauhd…. do you even realize how old 74 is?
It’s not very old.
My father is 71 and he is still hanging sheetrock.
Can barely walk??? Are you serious? How many 70 year olds can’t walk?
Report Post »bubbamoosecat
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:13pmThat pilot had more experience in his little finger than most. He was cleared by the FAA to fly. Pics I have seen indicate a mechanical problem, but I’ll still wait for the NTSB report before assigning blame. I’ve been around airplanes all my life.
Report Post »macpappy
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 9:14am@llcooljay
Report Post »Tell your father Hi for me….another old fart still bringing home the bacon. I hope he is runnning the crew and not humping rock around. As for the capabilities of the aged in our society; I would put my life in a old mans hands before I would a 20 something.
This pilot was probably the best qualified in the field, and chance and luck just caught up with him.
Peace be with all the injuried and dead, and understanding to those that are survivors.
johnj1952
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:58pmThese events can be great fun. This time and many other times it can turn terrible. Ive seen the blue angels and the other militery flying teams and what they do is amazing. It comes at a risk, even with the hours of practice and training something can go wrong. At any type of sport event something can go wrong from little league to auto racing to stunt flying. I wish all those killed Gods reward and the injuried are in my prayers.
Report Post »bigbadwolf
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 1:05pmAmen
Report Post »rockstone
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 8:52pmYeah…. I whince everytime 9 (And rising.) people are killed and close to 100 are injured in a single incident at a local little league game.
It just leaves me speechless when that happens.
How does one cope?
Report Post »neverending
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:56pmThoughts and prayers to all the families who lost loved ones as well as the pilots family and those who may be fighting for their lives or injured in any way. Such sadness in the end when they all just headed out for a fun and exciting day with family and friends.
Report Post »gabbygirl
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:35pmI cringed when your headline read “Video Shows Much Closer View.” I didn’t look at it and wont.
Report Post »Dustoff
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:47pmThat’s fine, no one is forcing you.
Report Post »Just South Of Heaven
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 4:51pm@ JERKOFF, You are a troll, and i would urge the rest of the forum community to avoid and ignore you!
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:39pmIt’s not a graphic video.
Report Post »Certainly the crash was a violent one. But you don’t see much other than debris flying through the air.
The videographer actually missed the moment of impact by a second or so.
bigbadwolf
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:27pmAs far as safety is concerned, a couple of years back there was a guy sleeping in a hammock at a park on a picnic…and a plane dropped out of the sky and killed him. They are airplanes and they move around, so it doesn’t matter where you are sitting. I know some of the pilots that were racing at Reno and they are VERY safety conscience. My boys have been working at air shows for about three years. Sometimes they are right on the hot ramp and I worry about them far more when they are on the freeway. God bless all the people who were in Reno.
Report Post »love1another
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:19pmWhy are you advertising for Obama to be our next president???
Report Post »Pujols
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:29pmHoly Crap! Everyday you live is a blessing.
Report Post »Metalist
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:30pm@LOVE1ANOTHER
And what does that have to do with the current topic?
Report Post »Pujols
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:36pmLOVE1ANOTHER, Are you stupid? Do you know anything about freedom? Capitalism?
Report Post »Do you work in a Bait Shop with worms. Do you know what SPONSORS are.
Just because We don‘t like Obama doesn’t mean He can put an add on here!
LEARN, READ, LEARN TO READ!
Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 1:13pm@ Love: it appears those that have responded are not going to show you any love. Be careful with your posts because there are some on here who take every opportunity to jump and you just threw them some raw meat… I’m thinking many of them simply get up on the wrong side of the bed and live miserable lives, but then again maybe they just have anger issues…
Report Post »UnPlugged Ed
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 6:27pmAnger Issues?…more than that. These people (right wing nutters) are scary.
Report Post »I am conservative, but i DO NOT align myself with you …jackasses.
Mil Mom
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:04pm@UnPlugged Ed
Report Post »Posted on September 17, 2011 at 6:27pm
Anger Issues?…more than that. These people (right wing nutters) are scary.
I am conservative, but i DO NOT align myself with you …jackasses
***
Beware, someone’s liable to walk by an empty socket & plug you back in!
But what’s that got to do with this story. Now this is a tragedy, Big Sis claimed the floods were so, when they’re a natural disaster, These accidents, & injuries, How tragic! May God comfort the people. Can you imagine having to explain to a child in the audience what has just happened, while hugging him/her close & thanking God, you’re among the survivors?
macpappy
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 9:27am@love
Because money talks, and BS walks.
@oldglory24/7
Right you are. Sometimes you feel like a nut, and sometimes you don’t.
We should all be a little more respectful of each other, and save the vitriol for the real trolls.
At unpluggeded
Report Post »Yet here you are, trolling with the rest of the angry birds.
qpwillie
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:04pmThe guy on the PA system should be awarded for preventing a stampede. He did a top notch job at staying calm and focused on the situation at hand.
Report Post »Vickie Dhaene
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:52amMay God bless the lost and comfort the injured. My prayers to all that witnessed this horror.
Report Post »BlondLab77
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:48amPicture on Foxnews shows trim tab of elevator hanging off. Certainly indicating mechanical error, not pilot error.
Report Post »KOCHLEFFEL
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:00pmWhat ever Error it was, I think an old fart like that should not do stunts.
Report Post »74 is retirement age this was a terrible mistake with a horrific result.
Mil Mom
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 10:13pm@KOCHLEFFEL
Report Post »Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:00pm
What ever Error it was, I think an old fart like that should not do stunts.
74 is retirement age this was a terrible mistake with a horrific result
***
Haven’t you read the latest from the Soc Sec Admin. They’re hoping to gradually raise the retirement age to 81(?)* I thing this was the latest release.) because people stay healthy longer and 7_(fill in the blank) is a lot younger than it used to be.)
macpappy
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 9:42amHis age, if anything was a benifit to what he was doing. Have you noticed the ages of the airline pilots? Expereince is what he brought to the show, and experience is what age brings with it. When flying, I always feel better when the pilot is white headed; as a matter of fact if I were to get on a plane with an inexperenced 30 something, I would be nervous.
Report Post »Remember never disparage the aged, the alternative really sucks.
Carl1 Supports Israel
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:48amPraying for all the families of this terrible tragedy…. Guess Obozo will want to ban all planes now??? Planes have killed people all around this planet. They must be banned now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:57amlol…true!
Report Post »Dustoff
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:46amBlaze.
What gives. Some of my post are taking 30 min’s to show up?
Report Post »Lars Skipole
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:35amWow, that was only about 50 ft from where i was sitting at the show… 2 years ago.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 10:06amWow! He missed you by two years and 50 feet!
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:32amMy only question. Seriously, how close do ppl need to sit to see these things? Horrible accident but the flight path was not all that far from where these ppl were sitting. Kinda like participating in the running of the bulls if you ask me.
Report Post »kenboo1
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:47amYou know what, Life is a gable… Everyday we wake up is a great day. Everyday you get out of bed is a day worth living… These people were doing something they loved. They were surrounded by people that loved the same thing… Accidents Happen. Accidents are always going to happen… If you cant deal with it… Go back to bed!!!
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:08pmyep, life is a gable. No idea what that means but whatever. And I’ll bet the families of the ppl that died are glad their loved ones loved parking their rear ends in seats parked directly under the flight path of a 500 mph plane. I love airshows too but I’m sorry, ya wont find me sitting on the runway or anywhere near it.
Report Post »Jim-in-kansas
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 8:27pmThat is your decision my friend and theirs. I am with you; sitting directly under the flight path of 500 mph aircraft at 200 agl is much more than I need to feel to a part of the event.
Report Post »James Douglass
Garden City, Kansas
JJ Coolay
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:42pmFly…. I suppose you’ve never made a typo, hmm?
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:22amDid you see that guy in the golf cart?? He was right there close when the plane impacted. He just happened to be “up wind” of the debris trajectory. But he was really, really close.
Report Post »I bet he threw those britches away!…Man, that was close!
lionslayer44
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:19ammy home town, my prayers go out to the people of Reno and the families of the lost and injured. I dont remember anything this bad there since the priscilla ford incident. this used to be the only air race in the country and it has always been dangerous. each year something happens and unfortunately thats part of what attacts crowds. God bless these folks and America!!!
Report Post »Riptides
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:18amCould the fact that there was no fireball upon impact indicate that he may have run out of fuel?
Report Post »Just wondering.
Prayers to all.
Rational Man
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:28amNope. Another poster said an eye witness he knows got covered in fuel. Buy the grace of God, it didn’t ignite.
Report Post »Dustoff
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:34amIf your bird (plane) runs out of fuel. It doesn’t act like that. Plus you can hear the engine running.
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:37amGrace of God for sure. There would have been plenty of ignition sources in an impact such as this, and there was more than enough speed to atomize the fuel.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:44pmLOLOLOLOL
DUSTOFF: Bird (plane) ????
Report Post »Why even put “Bird” if you needed to explain to us what you meant.
Just South Of Heaven
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:16amThis is why i avoid shows like this, as a spectator you have zero control.
My condolences for all.
Report Post »Dustoff
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:35amDo you stay off the freeway too?
Report Post »Ditto Head
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:52pm@Dustoff
Report Post »Are you retarded? Your small-minded analogy doesn’t work, unless there are crowds of people in lawnchairs sitting on the shoulder while traffic (including old people in dragsters who shouldn’t be driving in the first place) is racing by. Speaking of traffic, go play in some.
Just South Of Heaven
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 4:30pmIf you cannot figure out the difference between the two, your an *******. And by the way don’t forget to clean up your parents basement, troll.
Report Post »Just South Of Heaven
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 4:56pm@JERKOFF, as i was saying, i won’t go to any of these types of so-called silly events because you never know when it can happen AGAIN!!! But you, go for it,lol…
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/dispatchers-say-pilot-killed-in-west-virginia-air-show-crash-saturday/
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:47pmDustoff… what a ridiculous analogy.
There are chances you need to take and chances you don’t need to take.
I can’t get to work without driving my car, but I have to work. So yeah, driving on the highway with other vehicles going 60 MPH is a chance I must take everyday.
I don’t have to sit an air show with a half dozen planes flying 500 MPH right over my head.
See how that works??
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:14amthe WWII warbird (plane) failed, pilots there said it lost its trim tab, this was NOT human error no matter what age. quit with the age factor remarks, the pilot’s age had nothing to do with this and that pilot SAVED lives by expertly THINKING and trying to control the plane. that PLANE failed HIM.
these warbirds, like humans, are NOT meant to last FOREVER.
Report Post »Lonescrapper
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:25amDo they ever do replicas instead of flying rebuilt old planes? Would making replicas be safer than flying the old planes?
Report Post »Dustoff
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:37amYou do know, these birds are re-built from the ground up.
Report Post »Dustoff
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:41amO-brother. Have you ever worked on one of these aircraft? They are re-built from the ground up.
It‘s not some bird that’s been sitting in a shed for the last 50 years.
But sometimes even the best parts can and will fail.
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:07pmWhile I admire your loyalty to the pilot, I do think it’s a bit early to make such a sweeping conclusion as to the cause of this accident. That engine block has barely cooled to ambient, and already you know what caused the accident.
It is interesting that the tailwheel was extended on that aircraft just prior to impact. I’m not terribly sure what that means. If the gear extension sequence was initiated, the tail wheel hydraulic cylinder would be the first to extend given that it is the smaller cylinder. However, as to why it was extended remains to be seen. As you say, it could be a mechanical failure, or the result of an action taken by the pilot, or it may mean nothing at all.
As to mishandling a mechanical emergency by the pilot, again it is way too early to make such a determination, though some are quite content to jump to quick conclusions. Most folks that study aircraft accidents know that it takes a lot longer than this to make valid determinations.
One thing’s for sure, there will be a lot of different (and sometimes conflicting) conclusions as to the cause of the accident. As you’ll note, there are plenty of folks that already have “solved” the investigation. As time goes by, a lot of these opinions will evaporate.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:17pmThe local news said that this plane was completely rebuilt and modified, (shortened), 2yrs ago.
Report Post »And it has to pass a complete inspection before it can race. Very strict rules!
avi8tor
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:31pm@burnt
Report Post »True, and the fact that the tail wheel was not in the retracted position( shown in other pics) as it should have been, leads me to believe there was some kind of mechanical control failure in the tail end of that aircraft.
Christabel
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:39pmEven the newest planes can fail. It’s the nature of aviation. God bless them.
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 12:44pmStrict rules they may be, but I believe this aircraft would be under an experimental certification. This makes the things a bit different. It is not like a normal aircraft (if a P51 ever was). Many of these old warbirds would never make it through today’s certification procedures using their original design without an experimental certificate. These aircraft are being raced though. They are pushed far beyond their original design standards. I suspect that those original aeronautical engineers would suffer cardiac arrest if they knew what their creations were being forced to do now.
It’s my opinion that all of these WWII warbirds are relative deathtraps by their nature, and they were that way when new. Please understand that my opinion is “clouded” by having flown transport category aircraft for 20+ years. The fact that I never scratched any of them probably has more to do with their superior design standards, than it does with my limited flying abilities.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:55pmMan Ditto.. you frikkin nailed that! I was thinking the same thing.
Calling them “birds” makes you sound like a guy who thinks he’s “in” with the pilots but knows none of them or nothing about aviation for that matter.
Haha
Report Post »buckster6.0
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:13amI dont see why in hell someone needs to see this at point blank range?These ppl have family.********@theBlaze
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:37amEven the family members need to make sense of what happened for closure. It has nothing to do with seeing the blood and gore portion. Unfortunately, you cannot soften the blow here at any distance, this was a violent death for the pilot and those in the path.
Although, this is unrelated don‘t you think Natalie Holloway’s mom would rather know exactly what happened to her daughter and find her than get the lies from Vander Sloot?
Report Post »Dustoff
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:04amMy condolences for all.
Report Post »r-ramos
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:03amOur prayers go out to the families’ of the pilot and the others that were killed in this terrible accident.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:02amGod be with them. So sad.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:01amThis is a real tragedy. I just hope it does not lead to a slew of useless laws and regulations in the aftermath.
That, said I do wonder how safe it is for a 74 year old to be pulling a few g’s above a crowd.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:07amHe passed his flight physical which is required.It had to be a mechanical problem as he was highly experienced.Time will tell.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:11amit had nothing AT ALL to do with the pilot.he SAVED lives by TRYING to control the plane when it lost its trim.. that PLANE failed him.
WWII warbirds, like us humans, were NOT meant to last FOREVER.
Report Post »SkyeOne
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:15amDon’t start with the age bias. This could have happened with a 30 year old.
Report Post »jenna
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:01amwow, so terrible!
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 1:01pmHey, it beats rotting away year after year in a nursing home with Alzheimers! Wouldn‘t you rather go fast and unexpectedly while having fun rather than having years of warning while you get sicker and sicker from cancer or some other disease that takes what’s left of your life over with “procedure” after “procedure” ,during the waiting process, while your bank account is sucked dry and relatives abandon you? Seen it happen too frequently. Still, my condolences for those who lost their loved ones and those who were injured.
Report Post »