P51 Reno Air Crash

[apogee1mars]

NTSB is on site right now and nothing has been submitted as of yet about the fatal crash of a modified P51 Mustang at the Reno air races.

I would like to submit my guess before the results of NTSB's report is made public, and I would like to hear you speculation.

I am inclined to believe that the trim tab on the elevator departed long before the crash and that at full power the aircraft wanted to pitch up but was held in the proper nose attitude by overpowering the stick forces manually. When "Ghost Rider" came around the pylon, not only was the 72 year old pilot subject to high G loading he additionally had to use both hands to keep the stick pushed forward as he cranked on full power to close the gap. In doing so he completed the classic val salva manuever and blacked himself out. When the pilot faded away the aircraft pitched up at full power. At the top of the loop the aircraft continued to pitch until reaching the classic dive lock attitude that are peculiar to P51's in a high speed dive. It is at this attitude where Ghost Rider impacted the ground at almost a ninety degree attitude at full WOT and going sonic.

That's my guess. What is yours?

[PCP]

Mine is that a 72 old pilot should not be allowed to participate in a public aerobatic show at low altitude. Everybody knows that involves high Gs and that is dangerous on a 72 old man, not only for him (that's his problem) but also to others.

I believe he would not be allowed to fly professionally at that age a commercial airplane (that really are easy to fly and don't involve big G forces) and he is allowed to do acrobatic maneuvers at low altitude flying on a fast and difficult plane on a public display?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiDwL...eature=related

Crazy stuff

Regards

Paulo