What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The aircraft was entering the sport class race course at the Reno air races when it experienced a vibration in the tail. The pilot declared a "mayday," exited the course and landed without further incident. The elevator trim tab fitting was detached from the trim rod and from control surface. The elevator structure had received substatial damage from the suspected flutter.
As the FAA filed it
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENTERING THE SPORT CLASS RACE COURSE AT THE RENO AIR RACES WHEN IT EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION IN THE TAIL. THE PILOT DECLARED A "MAYDAY," EXITED THE COURSE AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB FITTING WAS DETACHED FROM THE TRIM ROD AND FROM CONTROL SURFACE. THE ELEVATOR STRUCTURE HAD RECEIVED SUBSTATIAL DAMAGE FROM THE SUSPECTED FLUTTER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.