P-51 Mustang crashes in Reno, Nevada (1 Viewer)

[BLReed]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/16/plane-crashes-at-nevada-air-race/

"Mike Draper, a spokesman for the air races, told The Associated Press that Jimmy Leeward was the
pilot of the P-51 Mustang that crashed into the box seat area at the front of the grandstand about 4:30 p.m."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/16/plane-crashes-at-nevada-air-race/#ixzz1YAStPJIr

It's being treated as a mass-casualty . Numbers of injured and dead still being
counted. At least 75 injured with 25 critical. Twelve dead by one report. This air show was
here two weeks ago. They were offering rides in a B-17, but was sold out, so
I missed a flight in it.

 

[Combat]

P-51 crash - Reno Air show

That was horrific. As bad as it was, you would think the gas tank would have exploded on impact. I didn't see any type of fire when the plane crashed. It just seemed to vaporize. Have never seen a crash with no fire. This could have been a whole lot worse if there had been a fireball.

 

[lancer]

Re: P-51 crash - Reno Air show

That was horrific. As bad as it was, you would think the gas tank would have exploded on impact. I didn't see any type of fire when the plane crashed. It just seemed to vaporize. Have never seen a crash with no fire. This could have been a whole lot worse if there had been a fireball.

From the account in the Post this AM, th P-51 was heavily customized including the wings being shortened by 10 feet overall and the ailerons being cut down drastically as well. Also sounded like the whole aircraft was basically untested in the configuration that it was racing in. The investigation will be very interesting. -- Al

 

[gk5717]

Re: P-51 crash - Reno Air show

This was indeed a terrible accident, but to hear some of those people say the pilot was a hero is bs. There is no way he had any control of that plane, it happened in a split second before he had any time to react, plus unless the pilot was dead or unconscious at the controls it was more than likely caused by some sort of mechanical failure thus he would have no control of the plane anyway.
I guess someone is just trying to put a positive spin on this but call it what it is, an accident.
Nothing against 74 year olds, but what is a 74 year old man driving a racing plane?
Gary

 

[bromhead]

Re: P-51 crash - Reno Air show

This was indeed a terrible accident, but to hear some of those people say the pilot was a hero is bs. There is no way he had any control of that plane, it happened in a split second before he had any time to react, plus unless the pilot was dead or unconscious at the controls it was more than likely caused by some sort of mechanical failure thus he would have no control of the plane anyway.
I guess someone is just trying to put a positive spin on this but call it what it is, an accident.
Nothing against 74 year olds, but what is a 74 year old man driving a racing plane?
Gary

The positive spin might be it hit the fringe of the crowd rather then a hundred yards the other,,74 year olds "driving" a racing aircraft are like dopey posting,,someone can do it or not