Joe's Random Ramblings

As a private pilot, I always have been interested in all things aviation.
So, as I have done in previous years, and will continue in the next years, I have attended this year's Reno National Championship Air Races.
Everybody who watches the news knows by now that there has been a horrific crash of a P-51 Mustang at the last race on Friday. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.
I personally was at the far end of the field, and only saw the plane pitch up and then go down.

There is at this point a lot of speculation about the cause of the accident. Right now, the most likely cause seems to be a mechanical failure, a failure of the elevator trim tab, making the plane unmaneuverable. When the plane pitched up, the pilot probably became unconscious due to the G-forces, likely over 10 G. We will never know if he regained some consciousness at the apex, and was able to push the stick enough to get away from the grandstands.

There are also some voices calling for an end to air shows. That is rather misguided. In fact, this accident is the first accident involving spectators in the history of the Reno Air Races. The Air Races have had millions of spectators over the years, so it is a very safe event. All the races happen way outside of the spectator area. Loss of life is always tragic, but one freak accident should not be used as an item in an anti-aviation agenda.

To the memory of the accident victims, to pilot Jimmy Leeward, and to the air races in the coming years.

Update: James Gosling, Java creator, was in the box seats, really close. His account is here.
He has more info here and some theorizing, based on some now widely known pictures here.

Update 2: The New York Times has a good article about the tragic event and the desire of us fans to have the races continue. A quote:

?Any kind of endeavor that is about human progress is going to have some risk,? Mr. Shim said. ?That?s how we move forward and advance. If we stop taking risks, we stop living.?
At least one message left at the memorial seemed to echo Mr. Shim?s sentiment.
?Jimmy?s flying with the best of ?em now,? the card read. It ended with the motto of the Reno races. ?Let?s honor him the best way we can: fly low, fly fast and turn left.?