2011 Reno Air Races......Not a good ending. Plane Crashes into Stands today

[david86440]

Not a good day in air races. Many injured as it crashes into stands.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCNePeKn3Tg

[david86440]

They are reporting it is the “Galloping Ghost,” and 12 3 dead as of now. At least 75 54 injured.  


http://www.pacificflyer.com/2010/10/the-galloping-ghost-returns-to-reno/

A P-51 Mustang with lots of history returned to Reno this year and, but for a bit of wind, was ready to put on a show.

The “Galloping Ghost,” owned by Jimmy Leeward of Ocala, Fla., was back for the first time in more than 20 years. The plane is famous for being a victor under several different names and has been flown by top notch pilots.

“We’ve had 100 people come up to us and say  ‘I'm so glad you brought that airplane back and restored it to the original colors,’ “ Leeward said. “The whole air racing community is so happy about it.”

The Galloping Ghost is a legendary aircraft in air racing history; it competed and won at the post-World War II Cleveland Air Races of the late 1940s. It was flown and won at the Reno  Races under different names, most notably “Jeannie” when Skip Holm piloted it to the Unlimited Gold championship as a rookie in 1981.

It also won the Unlimited Gold Race in 1980 with Mac McClain in the cockpit. The plane was also named “Miss Candace” from 1969 to 1978 when it was owned and flown by Cliff Cummings.
Leeward, who bought the plane in 1982, flew it under the names Specter and the Leeward Air Ranch Special, but after some hard luck and several blown engines, he decided to put the plane in storage in 1989 where it sat for 20 years, the Reno Gazette Journal reported

[Big Frank]

I heard this was the second crash they had there in three days.

[TAB]

I've been hearing about all day, I know several people that were there, not all of them have returned the calls... Hoping for the best.

[david86440]

I've been hearing about all day, I know several people that were there, not all of them have returned the calls... Hoping for the best.

ESP or hearing voices TAB?

It happened around 4:30 this afternoon.

[Sponsor]

[TAB]

ESP or hearing voices TAB?

It happened around 4:30 this afternoon.

working until about 9:30 pm...  so yeah a long time.

[tombogan03884]

Some pictures of the plane and of the crash

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/air-race-crash-in-reno-1316226189-slideshow/friday-sept-16-2011-photo-p-51-mustang-photo-231406637.html

[Solus]

Noticed something in the photos...Might be caused by poor photo quality, but they don't all look bad enough not to show this.

First, look at photo 22.  The pilot is clearly visible in the cockpit and is fairly well forward of the rear cockpit bulkhead.

Next note photo 3.  You can see the union of the front and rear canopy sections, but no pilot is visible.  Several photos do not show the pilot, but this is the best one and the others maybe distorted.

I'm not saying he isn't in there, but where he able, he would be visible at the controls trying to fly out of the stall.

I guess the high G's of the initial pitch up may have knocked him out and he is slumped out of sight.  Or he could be cringing, knowing the end is coming.....these guys aren't cringes by nature, though

[jnevis]

More thamn likely forced back by the violent pitch up and over.  That manuver actually took the plane away from the stands. otherwise it would have hit into them directly.  He definaltely didn't leave it.

Of note:  Pic 2 clearly show the trim tab missing off of the horiz stab.  The plane would have pitched over and lost control due to the G's. 

They are fairly certain that is what caused Gary Levitz's crash in 99.  His A/C pitched down causing the vert stab to seperate.  The plane then pitched over and disentigrated over a neighborhood.

[Solus]

More thamn likely forced back by the violent pitch up and over.  That manuver actually took the plane away from the stands. otherwise it would have hit into them directly.  He definaltely didn't leave it.

Of note:  Pic 2 clearly show the trim tab missing off of the horiz stab.  The plane would have pitched over and lost control due to the G's. 

They are fairly certain that is what caused Gary Levitz's crash in 99.  His A/C pitched down causing the vert stab to seperate.  The plane then pitched over and disentigrated over a neighborhood.

I know he didn't leave.  But those pilots are pretty firmly strapped in.  I don't think it would be likely he could be moved out of position where he could see and be seen unless there were other equipment failures....like safety harness or seat mounts.