20020913025109A

(-23) Fatal aircraft accident while participating in the Reno air races. (.19) on September 13, 2002, at 1440 pacific daylight time, an amateur-built minkler venture M20 airplane, N360, sustained a structural failure of the left and right horizontal stabilizers and the associated elevators at the Reno-Stead airport, Reno, Nevada, while participating in the sport class race as part of the annual Reno air races. Following the structural failure of the stabilizers and elevators, the airplane dove into the ground. The airplane, which was destroyed in the collision sequence, was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 of the federal aviation regulations. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. Federal aviation administration inspectors from the Reno flight standards district office were present at the airport monitoring air race activities. They responded to the accident site and interviewed witnesses. The accident occurred about halfway through the sport class race. As the airplane was rounding pylon no. 1, the horizontal stabilizers and elevators began flexing (on e witness who telephoned a report to safety board investigators said the airplane began a shallow porpoise just before) and then bent down. The airplane then dove into the ground. Preliminary on-site assessment of the wreckage disclosed that the horizontal stabilizers and elevators remained attached to the empennage; however, they were bent down at an acute angle at a point about 2 feet outboard from the root on each side.