What just happened at Reno?

[Invader26]

Jimmy, one of nature's southern gentlemen and avid warbird enthusiast.

You will be missed by many.

Tailwinds and blue skies.

RIP

Condolences to those killed and injured and to all of our friends and supporters who are mourning their loss.....

[lmritger]

After going through the pics and watching a couple of the videos, it appears the plane impacted just in front of that spectator area, by only 20-30 feet, but still... based on the video, it looks like Jimmy may have intentionally put it there as his last act with what little mechanical control he had, keeping it out of the stands directly and saving hundreds of lives.

That would be completely in character for such a kind-hearted man.

And while a lot of injured people are not out of the woods yet, I think it's worth mentioning this is nothing short of an absolute miracle that only two spectators have died as a result of this crash. Small comfort to the families of the lost, I know, but I was honestly expecting to log on and read about 20+ dead.

God bless ya Jimmy, and may peace be with the families and friends of those lost and injured.

Lynn

[mike furline]

In the photos being circulated on Yahoo, one seriously bothers me, and it is the pic BEFORE the pic that has been shown here, it shows a side view of 'Ghost' alledgedly just seconds before impact...and I gotta ask...WHERE is the pilot? ALL I see in that pic is plexiglass, no hint of a helmet or anyone in the cockpit...and comparing it with other photos of 'Ghost' on takeoff and in the air, you can ALWAYS see the pilot/Leeward in the plexiglass.....can someone smarter than me post that photo up here for folks to see?

Just putting it out there....

Mark

It's a doctored up static side view of the airplane. You'll notice that it's viewed perfectly down the wing line. Not an authentic photo of the incident.

I went back and looked at that image, and it's credited to AP, and captioned as something shot turing the incident. If you're right, Randy (and I'm NOT questioning your expertise here), then either Yahoo tied the caption to the wrong image, or the AP shooter's in some major trouble.

At first I thought the other image was photoshopped as well. Photo #2, tail wheel down.
http://www.rgj.com/article/20110916/EVE ... 27nofollow

[Canso42]

some small consolation-this am. news has reduced the number of fatalities. On one video on yahoo, the reported claimed that Jimmy tried to steer the plane clear of the crowd.

[Cvairwerks]

Without speculation on the why, there has been a photo posted on the EAA forums that shows the elevator inboard trim tab having seperated from the structure.

Our thoughts and prayers to all involved in any way out there.

[camshaw]

a sad sad situation...........I immediately called my good friend from carson city to see if he was there....Every year we get VIP complimentary tickets for free and this year I didn't go,he was planning on going on saturday......scary...thats where we would have been seated...

[CrewDawg]

Fox News just had a good account of what happened from one of the anchors father-in-law who is a pilot and was in the VIP area yesterday. He said that they were seated towards the top rows of the VIP grandstands and that at about 400 feet Jimmy was headed straight for them, at about 200 feet he was headed for the center of the grandstands and that he hit the front 15 rows or so of the grandstands. It appears that Jimmy's final moments were spent trying to save lives and avoid the crowd as much as possible, but Galloping Ghost was just not able to let him do it. As bad as it is, Jimmy is a hero for preventing it from being worse.

On a sidenote, I had an offer to go to Reno this year, complete with pit passes and stay at a friends house there. I couldn't make it because of work. I told myself next year I'll go for sure. I spoke with my friend last night and he said that he was standing in front of pit row, and watched it go right over his head, roll over and go in. I hope there is a next year.

[Nathan]

im tired of all the yahoo comments of the reno crash. I seen the guy last year at Thunder. So sad and hope this does not mean the end for warbirds. Joe public is having a field day bashing airplanes, airshows, and the pilot! He was more American then many of those idiots let me tell ya!

[gary1954]

can anyone splain the absence of any explosion/post crash fire? type of fuel used? all I know about Reno is that it is a fabulous event of which I have never had the pleasure to attend.

[Shay]

I just heard this morning. Very very sad indeed. Heart felt sympathies go out to all effected by this tragedy.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[TonyM]

After the plane stalled at the top of the roll, I don't think the pilot had any postive control; I don't believe he was able to control the airplane in any way.

[Ken]

After the plane stalled at the top of the roll, I don't think the pilot had any postive control; I don't believe he was able to control the airplane in any way.

That may be true. It also may be that we never really know. As so many have already said, even if you're spot-on in your analysis, nothing good comes from speculation at this point.

RIP Jimmy and those on the ground so tragically affected by this accident. We will never be the same.

Ken

[Randy Haskin]

I went back and looked at that image, and it's credited to AP, and captioned as something shot turing the incident. If you're right, Randy (and I'm NOT questioning your expertise here), then either Yahoo tied the caption to the wrong image, or the AP shooter's in some major trouble.

Nope, I agree -- I was incorrect. Went back and looked at all the factors, and I agree...it's legitimate and pretty amazing.

[Randy Haskin]

It appears that Jimmy's final moments were spent trying to save lives and avoid the crowd as much as possible, but Galloping Ghost was just not able to let him do it. As bad as it is, Jimmy is a hero for preventing it from being worse.

Not a slight on Jimmy or his memory in any way, but this is just not a reasonably honest way of describing what appears to have occurred, especially given the photos of what appear to be his helmet slumped over the controls forward. Witnesses say the throttle was still at full bore as it impacted -- that's not the actions of an airman heroically fighting a sick airplane to avoid innocent casualties.

Mr. Leeward was a phenomenal pilot and fantastic person anyway -- there's no need to spin a heroic yarn to make him any more of what he all ready was.

Blue Skies, Jimmy.

[mivey]

I have to agree with Randy's assessment. I was 30-40 yards to the east of the accident and there was no control over that plane and he came in with full power. The sound has been haunting me. The scream of the plane as she came in and the smell afterward is stuck in my ears and nose.

I don't even want to tell you what I saw...I just count my blessings I was that distance away and pray for those injured and those that passed (two more overnight).