What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During the formula one (F1) gold (race), while operation in waivered airspace at the Reno championship air races.
N913FT and N616DH were lined up for takeoff, start of the race in a standing start staged formation. This is the normal F1 start procedure.
N913FT was in the second row middle position forward and to the left of N616DH; N616DH was lined up in the back row behind and to the right of N913FT.
During the start sequence the pilot of N913FT opened his canopy and raised his hand to indicate he had an engine problem and to signal he aborted his takeoff, subsequently a red flag is to be thrown to stop all other aircraft behind to abort their takeoffs (this is the procedure in the F1 rules, if an airman?s aircraft has a problem during the start of the race). N616DH started his takeoff roll, just as he got airborne he struck N913FT hitting the top of the vertical fin, right wing and canopy.
Both aircraft sustained substantial damage; N913FT top of the vertical fin, canopy and right wing, N616DH left main gear, left wing and propeller. Pilot of N913FT sustained a minor injury to his right hand (forefinger metacarpal) which was initially diagnosed as fractured as a result of accident.
As the FAA filed it
DURING THE FORMULA ONE (F1) GOLD (RACE), WHILE OPERATION IN WAIVERED AIRSPACE AT THE RENO CHAMPIONSHIP AIR RACES.
N913FT AND N616DH WERE LINED UP FOR TAKEOFF, START OF THE RACE IN A STANDING START STAGED FORMATION. THIS IS THE NORMAL F1 START PROCEDURE.
N913FT WAS IN THE SECOND ROW MIDDLE POSITION FORWARD AND TO THE LEFT OF N616DH; N616DH WAS LINED UP IN THE BACK ROW BEHIND AND TO THE RIGHT OF N913FT.
DURING THE START SEQUENCE THE PILOT OF N913FT OPENED HIS CANOPY AND RAISED HIS HAND TO INDICATE HE HAD AN ENGINE PROBLEM AND TO SIGNAL HE ABORTED HIS TAKEOFF, SUBSEQUENTLY A RED FLAG IS TO BE THROWN TO STOP ALL OTHER AIRCRAFT BEHIND TO ABORT THEIR TAKEOFFS (THIS IS THE PROCEDURE IN THE F1 RULES, IF AN AIRMAN?S AIRCRAFT HAS A PROBLEM DURING THE START OF THE RACE). N616DH STARTED HIS TAKEOFF ROLL, JUST AS HE GOT AIRBORNE HE STRUCK N913FT HITTING THE TOP OF THE VERTICAL FIN, RIGHT WING AND CANOPY.
BOTH AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE; N913FT TOP OF THE VERTICAL FIN, CANOPY AND RIGHT WING, N616DH LEFT MAIN GEAR, LEFT WING AND PROPELLER. PILOT OF N913FT SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY TO HIS RIGHT HAND (FOREFINGER METACARPAL) WHICH WAS INITIALLY DIAGNOSED AS FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF ACCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other aircraft in the event · 1
Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.