Slide 1

Reno Air Races 2011
Danger Close, and
What Went Wrong


Slide 2

Me, box B47


Slide 3

Me, box B47


Slide 4

10~15 second after impact
Me, box B47

Point of impact


Slide 5

What went Wrong:

It is very clear to me that he lost a trim tab, pitched up hard at ~500mph, and blacked
out. The plane continued up in an erratic CW uncontrolled barrel roll over the grand
stands,
(one sec from impact) nosed over toward the grand stands behind the box seats,
(3/4 sec from impact) continued erratic roll toward my box, B47,
(1/2 sec from impact) full throttle dive into box B43-44.

I was listening on Race Frequency, he never call “mayday”.
I heard him come in at full throttle.
All pictures show head is not upright or slumped forward, consistent
with being unconscious (blacked out).
Picture showing missing elevator trim tab.


Slide 6

Head up, and clearly visable


Slide 7

Head forward,
unconscious,
blacked out

Missing portion of his
elevator trim tab


Slide 8

Head not visible.
Likely forward,
unconscious,
blacked out

No visible
control inputs


Slide 9

No up elevator
control input

Head not visible.
Likely forward,
unconscious,
blacked out

I heard his engine at
full throttle.