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20110916023789A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · North American/Aero Classics P-51D · Reno, NV · September 16, 2011

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
September 16, 2011 · 16:26 local
Place
Reno, NV
Airport
Reno Stead
Phase of flight
Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N79111
NTSB investigation
NTSBWPR11MA454
Reported as
North American/Aero Classics P-51D
Reported engine
Amateur-built PACKARD ROLLS ROYCE
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
12
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
13,800 total2,700 in this make and model38 in the last 90 days
N79111Registration cancelled Mar 1, 2020 · North American/Aero Classics P-51DS/N 44-15651Airframe modelNorth American/Aero Classics P-51DEngine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

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.

During the 3rd lap of the unlimited class Reno air race, a portion of the aircraft's elevator trim tab separated from the elevator causing the aircraft to abruptly pitch up. The g-load caused the pilot to black out and control of the aircraft was lost. The aircraft impacted the ground in the spectator viewing area killing the pilot, 11 spectators and injuring 61 others.

As the FAA filed it

DURING THE 3RD LAP OF THE UNLIMITED CLASS RENO AIR RACE, A PORTION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ELEVATOR TRIM TAB SEPARATED FROM THE ELEVATOR CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ABRUPTLY PITCH UP. THE G-LOAD CAUSED THE PILOT TO BLACK OUT AND CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN THE SPECTATOR VIEWING AREA KILLING THE PILOT, 11 SPECTATORS AND INJURING 61 OTHERS.

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 WPR11MA454Accident · 11 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportReno, NVThe reduced stiffness of the elevator trim tab system that allowed aerodynamic flutter to occur at racing speeds. The reduced stiffness was a result of deteriorated locknut inserts that allowed the trim tab attachment screws to become loose and to initiate…Sep 16, 2011 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N79111 · 1

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

Incident 19800904068669ITo Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) · Van Nuys, CAEngine stopped after takeoff. Probable cause of failure was the carburetor.Sep 4, 1980 · Minor damage