Reno Air Crash

[Marc Martyn]

I've been to numerous air shows and fortunately the ones I have been to went well. Sadly the Reno Air Show ended tragically.
There are photos surfacing on the internet of the actual crash. This photo was taken just before it crashed. It clearly shows that on the left horizontal stabilizer (tail section) one of the trim tabs is missing. This would cause the aircraft to lose control quickly, especially at the speed he was going, about 400-500 mph. Earlier reports stated that a part was see falling off of the plane before it crashed.

[Amx]

There is an even better/closer up picture than that one. It shows the tab hanging by one end. For those who don't know, the elevators are what makes the plane go up or down, those tabs are part of the elevators. One goes missing and the control of the plane is VERY iffy. While it's just hanging there it'll cause conflicting airflow and cause the plane do do weird things.

[Bodofish]

Very sad to see the human suffering and death. Along with that an irreplaceable piece of history.

OUCH!

[Amx]

http://www.examiner.com/aviation-in-ren ... st-photo-2

[img=http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_full_width/hash/af/e4/afe4d8e578dc02985a83e7d3297dacbd.jpg]tab[/img]

[hewesfisher]

This tragic event touches me personally as I knew one of the victims. As far as I could tell from searching online, his name has not yet been released. His family lived across the street from us when I was in grade school, and our families were close to each other for years after. My mother and his mother are still close friends today.

I walked in the door after getting the propane tank topped off in the motorhome for our Rufus Woods trip next week to find out my mother had called to let me know. Not only did she tell my wife about the close family friend that perished in this crash, but also a grade school and high school classmate that died suddenly and unexpectedly yesterday. She was such a humble and generous person and we had a great time visiting with her last summer at my 35th HS reunion.

I just can't believe they're both gone now.

May God Bless their souls and all those who died in this terrible crash.

[Amx]

http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/fltmidparts.htm


[img=http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/images/parts.gif]p[/img]

[Marc Martyn]

Mechanical failures resulting in deaths have always left me with a haunting and bewildering feeling. When I was in the Air Force working on B-52's, one of our bombers crashed on takeoff. Apparently the pilot lost his steering about 2/3 down the runway. The bomber veered right and cartwheeled killing all on board. This happened on a Sunday afternoon. When I went into work Monday morning I was told about it and was asked if I could help identify aircraft parts in the debris field. I walked around the crash site with several high ranking officers who had their staff taking photos and taking notes. That was the most haunting thing I have ever experienced. No one was allowed close to the cockpit which was still partially intact because they had not recovered the bodies yet. It was still too hot to get them out.
For months after that incident I thought about that accident almost constantly. I had worked on that plane just 3 days prior to that. I retraced every movement of my inspection I did in my mind over and over again. I was constantly wondering if I had missed something, something I could have done different. I was discharged in June of 1974 and it wasn't until the following September the results of the investigation came back. A hydraulic pump for the steering failed...mechanical failure. I was never called into the investigation because the bomber had flown 3 times since I worked on it and it had 2 basic post flight inspections after I had it.
The results from the Reno crash won't be in for some time, but I'm guessing that it was mechanical failure. I'm sure the pilot, had he had 10,000ft of elevation could have discovered the problem and compensated. However, at 300ft and going as fast as he was, he probably didn't have time to even evaluate what went wrong.

The Spokesman-Review posted some photos of the accident. Some are pretty graphic.
http://www.spokesman.com/picture-stories/air-show-crash-reno/

[Bodofish]

Looks like they lost a trim tab, I can't see that in its self being a big problem but it was probably something that you couldn't see on the inside.....

[racfish]

I do feel for those who were injured and passed away during this tragic accident May the good Lord watch over them and their families. What is it with mankind always wanting to rekindle the past. Somethings are just meant for the museums.Im not into being nostalgic like this.There are better ways to teach the past then by flying a museum piece.

[Marc Martyn]

I'm not sure if it is just nostalgia. The P-51 Mustang was a major break through and turning point in WWII. Once introduced, the B-17's had fighter escorts deep into German occupied lands. Before they were developed, the survival rate of bomber crew members was a 1 in 3 chance. Not good.

It is a fascinating aircraft with an airframe design that still wows people 65 years later. It is kind of like the death of the Ford Edsel and the birth of the 1964 Ford Mustang. That body style was so popular and still is that just in the last year or two, Ford has gone back to the original 60's Mustang design.

It is human nature for people to watch fast action and high risk taking. Olympic bobsled racing, Nascar, bull fighting, rodeos and air races. Rarely do people think they would be injured or killed attending these events, but it does happen every year. Just last year a bull at a ring in Spain jumped into the crowd and injured 40 people. This recent accident reminds us that the danger is not just with the people participating but those as spectators also. When ever things like this happen it is truly tragic.

[racfish]

Marc?? Thats alot of Bull!!!! Hehehehe