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Plane Crash at Reno Air Races

_JL_

_JL_

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Here are all the early details via CNN:

Reno, Nevada (CNN) -- "Mass casualties" were reported at an air show after a plane crashed Friday into the box seat area in front of a grandstand at the National Championship Air Races and Air Show in Reno, Nevada, a spokesman for the show told CNN.
Mike Draper said he's been told there are "likely fatalities," but it has not been determined how many or who they may be.
The pilot, identified as Jimmy Leeward, a real estate developer from Ocala, Florida, was likely killed in the crash, the show said in a statement. He was flying a P-51 Mustang.

A Reno, Nevada, hospital said Friday evening on its website that it had received a "total of 21 patients" after the plane crashed. "No further patients are expected at this time," the Renown Regional Medical Center reported at 5:45 p.m. PT. The conditions of those patients were not released.

Video from the scene, posted on YouTube, showed a plane plummeting from the sky, sending up clouds of dust and debris.

Shocked spectators rose to their feet.
Fred Scholz, a witness, said he saw the plane seemingly "coming straight down."
"I thought he was coming right on top of us," he said, noting that the aircraft ultimately hit about 100 feet from him, in an area of box seats, filled with folding chairs.
"Luckily there was no fire, which surprised me," said Scholz, a 59-year-old from Truckee, California, who says he goes to air races ever year. "It just happened so quickly."

The plane, called the "Galloping Ghost," was taking part in a qualifying round in the "unlimited class" division of the air race when it went down around 4:15 p.m. PT Friday, Draper said. The final rounds had been slated for the weekend.


The aircraft was about a lap into the race when the pilot sent out a "Mayday signal" and pulled "out of the lap" before crashing into a box seat area that is in front of a grandstand at the "very large race field," located about 15 miles north of Reno, Draper said.


"It was clear that (the plane) was pulling up and was in distress," he said.

He added that authorities do not yet know why the aircraft went down.

Besides the Federal Aviation Administration personnel already there to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in any investigation, the show's spokesman said that National Guard members -- who were on-site practicing before the incident -- are helping emergency personnel to clear the area.

"There are people still being escorted out of that area with various injuries," Draper said.

Local fire officials are reporting multiple fatalities and critical injuries, according to Ian Gregor, a spokesman with the FAA.

He said the aircraft did not catch fire, but there was a wide debris field following the crash.
 
WOw, bad bad news.
 
Very very sad....


Tappin' from my iPad!
 
That is simply unreal to say the least.
 
PS. The pilot, Leeward, was 80 years old.
 
With these shows there really is no "safe zone" but the shows go on every day so the professionalism and expertise of the pilots is unquestioned. The inherent danger is what makes them exciting, but we hardly ever consider the danger that comes with merely being a spectator.

Very sad to hear of this..
 
Wow, sad news indeed. Prayers go out to those affected.
 
So sad :(
 
Listening to eyewitness accounts on CNN is surreal.

It seems the pilot was headed directly towards the main bleachers, and did all he could at the last moment to pull up and miss them, unfortunately landing in the middle of the box seating as a result.
 
Now they're saying only 2 confirmed dead. Hopefully that total doesn't rise much higher.
 
There is video of the crash. However, I dont recommed it for the faint of heart. Very sad footage indeed. Prayers with families.
 
What a terrible thing to have happen. That is very sad.
 
sad day--went to those races with our flying club during college('67-69)----after lots of years thinking of those races still bring chills--if you aren't living on the edge you are just taking up space
 
That is seriously tragic news. Prayers go out for the families affected
 
This is so sad. Both for the loss of life, and injury, but also for the loss of a great aircraft.
I wouldn't be surprised if people scream for the end of these races, but they need to realize that these things happen(ed) in all racing series.
Anyone versed in the history of Le Mans or F1, or NASCAR know that these things happen as unfortunate as it is.
 
RatFink said:
t these things happen(ed) in all racing series.
Anyone versed in the history of Le Mans or F1, or NASCAR know that these things happen as unfortunate as it is.
Click to expand...
used to travel to see Unlimited Hydroplane(Miss Budweiser, etc)--champ one year dead the next
 
This story is unbelievable! Everytime I see a news feed there are more deaths. Thoughts and prayers to the families.


Tapatalk... Loved by me hated by the wife.
 
tragic news,my thoughts go out to all the families.....

r.i.p
 
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