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

[billt]

 Had he been able to input any control, he would not have been at full power and, while he likely would have crashed, it would have been at less than the close to 90 degree impact.

True. Again if you watch the Bryan Jensen crash, you can clearly both see and hear how he was fighting to regain control right to impact.  Bill T.

[Pathfinder]

There's now conjecture that his seat became detached or unlocked and slid back, forcing the pilot out of sight.

One thing I did not think of is that the fuel did not explode or even burn. The air racers must use the same additives that F-1 cars use to eliminate burning. Had the fuel burned, the crowd was sprayed with fuel according to one news report, and the death toll would be a lot higher - it is now at 11.

[TAB]

100LL does not burn very well in liquid form, but when it is in the air watch out.

He most likly didn't have much onboard to start out with.

[tombogan03884]

He would have had just enough for the race.
extra fuel = extra weight = extra drag = lower speed .
Back when the plane was built they countersunk the rivet heads because it gave less drag and increased speed, these folks aren't going to miss a trick.

[Pathfinder]

100LL does not burn very well in liquid form, but when it is in the air watch out.

He most likly didn't have much onboard to start out with.

When the plane crashed the fuel was turned into an aerosol - plenty of air mixed in. There was enough left that the crowd around the crash was sprayed with fuel according to the news story, but it did not ignite.

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

There's now conjecture that his seat became detached or unlocked and slid back, forcing the pilot out of sight.

One thing I did not think of is that the fuel did not explode or even burn. The air racers must use the same additives that F-1 cars use to eliminate burning. Had the fuel burned, the crowd was sprayed with fuel according to one news report, and the death toll would be a lot higher - it is now at 11.

That seemed a likely occurrence when I first noticed he was not visible in the cockpit in the photos.

[jnevis]

Unlimiteds don't use 100LL, they typically run 115 AvGas plus Anti-Dentonation Injection (ADI).  ADI is basically water/alcohol injection to increase compression and in turn lower cylinder temp.  They run with manifold pressures around 90-100inMAP, a typical GA plane runs around 20-30inMAP.

[billt]

The seat problem seems very plausible. However a complete failure and collapse of the seat itself seems more likely than it sliding back. Even if it did it wouldn't put the stick or the throttle out of his reach. If the entire structure of the seat itself failed, literally bringing his ass crashing to the floor of the plane, it would better explain what happened. I'm 6" 2" and I've never sat in a car in my entire life I could not drive from the rear most seat position.

 These planes have very little cockpit room as it is. If the seat had any adjustment front to back, it would be very slight. This guy wasn't small in stature.

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/air-race-crash-in-reno-1316226189-slideshow/friday-sept-16-2011-photo-p-51-mustang-photo-231406637.html#crsl=%252Fphotos%252Fair-race-crash-in-reno-1316226189-slideshow%252Fp-51-mustang-airplane-shown-upside-down-crashing-photo-031625912.html

Again, if you look at photo #9 it shows his helmet right up against the instrument panel. What you cannot determine is his vertical position in the cockpit. If the seat failed and he was sitting on the floor of the aircraft at this time, it could easily be a factor in what caused this. Add to it the massive G forces he was being subjected to, and he could not possibly maintain proper control and sight.   Bill T.

[billt]

Another possibility that coincides with catastrophic failure of the seat, is that if it did occur it would have happened during a high G loading. This could have easily injured his back or spine, immobilizing him in the process. I know as I've gotten older, I have had my back go out just by turning or moving the wrong way. When it happens it is excruciatingly painful and disabling.  Bill T.

[jnevis]

Take a look at a similar Unlimited.  Other than the glare shield on the upper canopy 177's pilot should be in teh saem position and visible .