P-51 crashes at Reno air race, injuring more than 50 and killing at least 3

[Otto]

www.rgj.com/article/20110916036/EVENTS05/110916036/Plane-crashes-Reno-National-Championship-Air-Races

The situation at Reno-Stead Airport is described as a "mass casualty event" by Mike Draper, a spokesman for the Reno National Championship Air Races. Draper could not provide specific numbers but said emergency protocol is being followed.

He said the pilot of the crashed aircraft is Jimmy Leeward, piloting the Galloping Ghost. He could provide no information about the pilot's condition.

Witnesses to today's crash at the Reno National Championship Air Races are describing a horrific scene, with multiple fatalities and body parts strewn across the tarmac at Reno-Stead Airport.

"It's just like a massacre. It's like a bomb went off," said Dr. Gerald Lent of Reno, who witnessed the crash. "There are people lying all over the runway."

The only thing the Korean War veteran could compare the scene to was combat.

"One guy was cut in half. There's blood everywhere," Lent said. "There's arms and legs. One guy just said 'hey, there's another foot over here."

Lent said the P-51 fighter was racing when the aircraft pulled straight up, made a roll and "went right into the audience" in the VIP area.

Juan Echeverria, 37, of Sparks, said he was about 100 feet away when the World War II-era fighter went down.

"The guy lost control, shot straight up into the air and came down into the people," Echeverria said. "It hit full force, full throttle."

The plane did not explode but "just disintegrated into debris," Echeverria said. "There's a huge crater where it hit."

Echeverria described a horrific scene.

"It's shocking," he said. "The scene is very gruesome."

Lent said in his opinion, the crash could spell the end of the air races in Reno.
"I don't know how we can have air races here again," he said. "It's over."

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UPDATE at 5:27 p.m.: Greg Erny, 57, said a plane made a turn then went up and came straight down into the grand stands. He said the plane disintegrated into the crowd of people.

"it was the most sickening thing I've ever seen just watching the plane, there was no plane left," he said.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zusClmg4IQg