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20070914020801A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Amtr OR-71 · Reno, NV · September 14, 2007

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
September 14, 2007 · 10:00 local
Place
Reno, NV
Airport
Reno/Stead
Phase of flight
Low Level Operations
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Collision
Midair collision, first aircraft
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N1VD
NTSB investigation
NTSBSEA07FA264
Reported as
Amtr OR71
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
2,700 total65 in this make and model60 in the last 90 days
N1VDRegistered now · Deluca OR-71S/N V102 · Built 1972Airframe modelDeluca OR-71Engine modelContinental 0-200 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) During the Reno air race, N1VD passed N11XR slightly lower and to the right side of N11XR. As both aircraft approached pylon 1 of the formula one race, N11XR started to initiate a left turn slightly earlier than N1VD and basically to the inside of N1VD. As the turn started N11XR appeared to skid to the right and over the top of N1VD. The left wing of N11XR came into contact with the empennage of N1VD causing N1VD to pitch up causing further contact. N1VD lost the upper part of the empennage (cockpit to vertical stabilizer), the right horizontal stabilizer tip right up to the elevator, canopy separation, and right wing tip separation up to the right aileron. All control surfaces remained intact and functional on N1VD however, N11XR went inverted and crashed nose down onto runway 32 with fatality. N1VD was able to make a controlled crash along the right side of runway 14 with serious injury. Review of videos taken, and interview with the surviving pilot revealed that neither pilot could see each other.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING THE RENO AIR RACE, N1VD PASSED N11XR SLIGHTLY LOWER AND TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF N11XR. AS BOTH AIRCRAFT APPROACHED PYLON 1 OF THE FORMULA ONE RACE, N11XR STARTED TO INITIATE A LEFT TURN SLIGHTLY EARLIER THAN N1VD AND BASICALLY TO THE INSIDE OF N1VD. AS THE TURN STARTED N11XR APPEARED TO SKID TO THE RIGHT AND OVER THE TOP OF N1VD. THE LEFT WING OF N11XR CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE EMPENNAGE OF N1VD CAUSING N1VD TO PITCH UP CAUSING FURTHER CONTACT. N1VD LOST THE UPPER PART OF THE EMPENNAGE (COCKPIT TO VERTICAL STABILIZER), THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER TIP RIGHT UP TO THE ELEVATOR, CANOPY SEPARATION, AND RIGHT WING TIP SEPARATION UP TO THE RIGHT AILERON. ALL CONTROL SURFACES REMAINED INTACT AND FUNCTIONAL ON N1VD HOWEVER, N11XR WENT INVERTED AND CRASHED NOSE DOWN ONTO RUNWAY 32 WITH FATALITY. N1VD WAS ABLE TO MAKE A CONTROLLED CRASH ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY 14 WITH SERIOUS INJURY. REVIEW OF VIDEOS TAKEN, AND INTERVIEW WITH THE SURVIVING PILOT REVEALED THAT NEITHER PILOT COULD SEE EACH OTHER.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA07FA264Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportReno, NVThe failure of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain an adequate visual lookout and clearance from one another during a low altitude aerial race.Sep 14, 2007 · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage

Other reports on N1VD · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19920920042599IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Reno, NVPilot lost directional control of aircraft due to a brake malfunction. Veered off runway. Flipped over.Sep 20, 1992 · Minor damage