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A witness told the NTSB that neither plane was where he expected them to be before the deadly collision at the final National Championship Air Races in Reno on Sept. 17.
The North American T-6G (Race 6) and North American AT-6B (Race 14) crashed upon landing at the conclusion of the T-6 Gold race, with pilots Nick Macy flying the T-6G Six-Cat and Chris Rushing flying the AT-6B Baron's Revenge. Several witnesses observed Race 14 and Race 6 collide while in the airport traffic pattern for Runway 8. One witness told the NTSB that Race 14 was on the base leg for runway 8, traveling along the perimeter fence line about 300 feet above ground level. Race 6 was on downwind, on a west-south-west heading at about 300 feet agl. A witness told investigators that Race 6 was at about a 75-degree angle in relation to the flight path of Race 14.RELATED STORY:Final Reno Air Races end with deadly collision, killing 2
The pilot of Race 66 shared his account of the collision with the NTSB. Race 14 and Race 6 were in the first and second place positions and Race 66 was in the third position to land. As he was about to complete the turn onto the downwind he heard the other two pilots both transmit, "downwind, abeam," and he began to slow his plane to create more space between the aircraft and give himself more time to see them. The Race 66 pilot reported hearing Race 14 transmit "base with gear." As he neared turning onto the base leg of the runway he saw Race 6 and transmitted downwind abeam. He said he finally noticed Race 14 below his position to the right and on the base leg. He saw Race 6 in level flight to his left. He told the NTSB that both of the aircraft were not where he expected them to be.
The witness told the NTSB that Race 14 was on a wider base than the previous two flights and Race 6 was tighter than his position. The Race 66 pilot said that Race 14 crossed in front of his position from the right to left, disappearing from view on the right side of the engine cowling as Race 6 disappeared under the left wing. The witness pilot transmitted base with gear and began a left turn to the base leg for Runway 8. Moments later, he noticed Race14 where he expected him to be in level flight and with "nothing behind the passenger seat," before it began to roll to the right and descend in a nose-low attitude.
The NTSB said that a review of the recorded radio transmissions after the race revealed that Race 14 reported downwind abeam and 30 seconds later Race 6 also reported downwind abeam. This was followed by a transmission from Race 14 reporting base with gear just four seconds later. Numerous transmissions were heard from other pilots reporting downwind abeam until the announcement of a red flag one minute and 11 seconds after Race 14's initial transmission.
The accident site contained a debris path originating 7,881 feet northwest of the approach end of Runway 8 and extended south to the main wreckage of Race 14, about 1,366 feet in length. Pieces of Race 14 were identified in the debris field, including segments of the left flap and aileron, right horizontal stabilizer and elevator, sections of the aft fuselage skin and a plastic pouch with airplane documents. Small pieces of black painted skin and plexiglass from race 6 were found in the debris field.
The Race 6 wreckage came to rest in an open field. The wing structure separated from the fuselage and the outboard left wing was separated at the attach joint. The wing sections were found 30 feet south of the main wreckage. The fuselage was compressed aft. The rudder, tailwheel, vertical stabilizer, left horizontal stabilizer, left elevator and portions of the fuselage skin from Race 14 were found mixed in with the Race 6 wreckage. All of the Race 6 major structural components were found within about 50 feet of the main wreckage. The Race 14 wreckage came to rest in an open sagebrush field. The entire wing section was compressed aft and separated from the fuselage, found about 10 feet from the main wreckage.
Both of the pilots were killed in the crash and the two aircraft were destroyed. After speaking with friends and family of the deceased, the Reno Air Racing Association chose to cancel the remainder of the races. A moment of silence was held and the remainder of the races were canceled before awards were given out. This year was the last year the races would be held in Reno after the Reno Tahoe Airport Authority chose to end hosting the event after nearly 60 years.RELATED STORY:AOPA analyzes deadly collision at final Reno Air Races
The AOPA Air Safety Institute released an early analysis video on the crash, with Senior VP Richard McSpadden, explaining the procedures pilots follow during and after completing the races. RARA has extensive safety procedures and each pilot is tested on the rules before participating in the races. The two pilots were experienced and well-versed in the specific rules and procedures meant to be followed for the Reno races.
The NTSB has released its preliminary investigation and will continue investigating for a final report to determine a probable cause. A final report will be released at least one year after the crash, with any possible causes, if one can be determined.