Event Coverage Reno Air Races News...

I've seen a close up still image, probably taken from one of the videos, which shows the elevator trim tab seperating from the aircraft.
My specualtion, got that? Just speculation, is that as the tab seperated, the aircraft pitched down, Jimmy corrected abruptly, the aircraft did a high speed stall and snap rolled on him. As fast as that whole incident took place, there not only was not time enough to correct, I doubt there was time enough to fully understand what was happening.
Either way, reduced to it most basic, it is a terrible tragedy, and that's the end of it.

 

What a tragedy, prayers for all those involved.

 

Scary and sad. Prayers for all involved.

 

Prayers and condolences to all affected by this accident. When man is involved in performing on the ragged edge there is no ***urance the outcome will be positive.

Frank

 

Agreed that whatever the mech issue, it was unforeseeable, and if an experienced pilot like Jim couldn't right his bird, nobody could have. By the dictionary definition, an accident all the way, but a terrible, terrible one. All we can do is pray for the dead and injured, and for all who have been impacted in some way.

 

Very sad incident. Prayers go out to all involved.

 

Yeah I just read the article.
Very traumatic accident.

Yeah somethings definitely not right with that trim tab.
TP

 

My wife's uncle was flying in the race. Jimmy actually had just p***ed him in the turn just second before he pulled his mayday maneuver. He was 74 years old but was in great health. They said he knew something was wrong and that he may have blacked out from the Gs when he pulled up hard. They have footage of his trim tab on the tail of the plane that had been ripped off. A daughter of one of his crew was in the seats just down from the crash and said she came running back screaming covered in blood/guts, fuel and dirt. It is a horrible tragedy but I'm surprised it's only 3 dead so far. It could have been alot worse. We are still praying.

 

Relieved to read the news this morning and find that the death toll was far less than first thought.

The thing everyone has to accept is that being a spectator at any event is very dangerous, but it's the chance we take to see the things we enjoy.

Found this image this morning....chilling.

 

There has only been 19 people since 1964. I took my boy 2 years ago. One of the coolest events I have ever been too

 

Prayers for the families and all affected. The pilot and the people killed went out doing what they enjoyed.

One thing that just blew me away is after watching the live podcast the emergency medical crews parked maybe 75 yards away and just walked nonchantly(sic), at a regular walking pace up to the injured. Didn't even walk at fast pace.
In one scene a poor guy's leg was missing right below his hip and people are just walking by him and he is picking his head up and looking back at them. The whole scene was just bizzare, I always figured an accident scene like that people would be rushing around like crazy.

 

My friend is a veteran and he told me that everybody was in "Shock" of the carnage and there were Emergency crews within walking distance but he thinks that they weren't prepared for what they saw.

I've been at horrific accident scenes twice in my life and aside from covering up the the bodies and consoling the injured and providing the most basic "First Aid" you can feel pretty helpless until professional help arrives.

Nobody expects to administer triage services on the side of the road... but How many people are prepared or capable to administer aid to severely injured people... let alone a large number of people????

God bless all...

 

I have witnessed and responded to three aircraft crashes in my time as an Army Medic. One at an air show, one preparing for an airshow, and one helicopter that went down with 6 of my Unit mates on board.
As a professional responder you are taught not to run at the scene of an incident, ever. Running and rushing leads to panic and panic leads to lost patients.
At an aircraft crash you are taught not to enter a debris field with the vehicle, hence stopping 75 yards away.
Initial Triage may appear to leave victims to suffer, however the purpose of Triage is to "do the greatest good for the greatest number".
What that involves is often difficult to do, just typing this and thinking back my hands are shaking quite badly.
As for bystanders it is not unusual for them to be in a level of shock, many wander around the scene in an apparent daze. Even lower level First Aid trained people often appear to 'forget' what there training is. Also even the best First Aid courses only teach how to work from a First Aid Kit, they do very little to teach people how to utilise what is immediately available in an incident scene.

I feel for the families of those lost and those injured and hope the injuries may be minimal. For the people who had to witness this first hand I also hope they may not be permanently scarred by it.

Doc.

 

What a terrible tragedy. Praying for those lost, thier families, and all those affected by this accident.

Doc, thank you for explaining how emergency responders are trained to respond.

 

wow..thoughts and prayers for all involved.

 

There is a still of the plane right before it nosed in showing no pilot at the controls. So yes, when he called mayday and pulled up I would say you are correct and the Gs got him.

 

Thoughts and prayers to those affected. Have seen Jimmy and family for years at Sun-n-Fun promoting their Leeward Air Ranch near Ocala.Sad day.
On a sidenote I believe the "Galloping Ghost" P-51 has racing history going
back to Cleveland shortly after WWII

 

Terrible news. Thought and prayers to all concerned.

 

Prayers for the victoms and family's
i have been at accidents first responce is to look it over first then treat
do not drive in

 

I'm pretty sure he was wearing a G suit, since I seen P51 pilots wear them at the EAA in Oshkosh. So, it's hard to say if he blacked out or just plainly, lost control of his aircraft due to failure.
My prayers go out to the families and all those who were involved.

 

Yes
Look at the ****pit in the photo were he is inverted.
His head is obviously all the way forward ….. He isn’t flying

 

It's just horrific that anyone in the crowd was killed/injured, but these types of shows involve an element of danger. God Bless them and their families.

I was raised in a little town just outside of Harlingen, TX back when the Confederate Air Force was headquartered there. The P-51s and P-38s would race on a course that took them right over our house. We'd sit on the roof and listen to those Merlins sing.

There is absolutely NOTHING that can match that sound.

My mom was the secretary at the CAF headquarters for several years and I got to meet all kinds of cool guys ***ociated with warbirds, like Pappy Boyington and Tennessee Ernie Ford (not an aircraft guy, but he did do the announcing for the airshow every year).

Back in the early 70s, there was a ton of the WW2 guys still around and those airshows were packed with guys who had first hand experience with the warbirds.

 

Heartbreaking.

 

A G-Suit is no guarantee that one will not loose consciousness in a high G maneuver, that has more to do with the pilots physiology. Even the fittest of 74 year old people will have a lower tolerance to blackout.

Although speculation at this stage is just that, speculation. Blame should not be placed on anyone nor the reasoning for the accident be ascribed to any particular componentry.

Being a Medic (Even an Army one) on a fighter base (Navy) this is something you learn a great deal about.

Doc.

 

What a great story. We live in the flight path of Van Nuys Airport where many vintage aircraft are stored. I always listen for the old warbirds. There's nothing like hearing the P-38 and P-51 engines, or the groan of a C-130 transport plane lumbering overhead. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who was at Reno. A tragic, tragic day.

 

I cant find the other photo, very clear side profile, not the one all the agancies are running. But at home with my good monitor I can now see him slumped in the above picture.

 

Thank you Doc. Watching that video I was wondering why people moved so slowly. The scene just doesn't look real, can't help but wonder how it effected people watching it first hand. Prayers going out to everyone.

 

sad day indeed ,been updated to 9 fatalites, leaning towards a mechanical failure

 

I just saw the updated count.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44556695/ns/us_news-life/?gt1=43001

 

what sad news, i saw it all over the news here. what a beautiful plane and the pilot sounded like a great guy! i will pray for all those involved!