What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During practice for the Reno air races, at an estimated 385 mph, approximately two feet of the outboard right wing separated from the aircraft. The aircraft entered an uncommanded roll to the right, followed by disintegration of the empennage and impact with the terrain. The pilot was fatally injured.
As the FAA filed it
DURING PRACTICE FOR THE RENO AIR RACES, AT AN ESTIMATED 385 MPH, APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET OF THE OUTBOARD RIGHT WING SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN UNCOMMANDED ROLL TO THE RIGHT, FOLLOWED BY DISINTEGRATION OF THE EMPENNAGE AND IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.