Video: Reno Air Race Crash Kills 3 Injures 54 and Leads to Cancellation of National Air Race Championship

In the wake of a fatal crash today at the annual Reno Air Races in Reno NV, the remainder of the Championship competition has been cancelled for 2011. The announcement was made at a press conference today shortly after the Reno Air Race crash seen in this video.

So far the pilot, 74-year old Jimmy Leeward from Florida, and two on the ground are confirmed dead and another 54 reported injured when the highly modified vintage World War II P-51 Mustang fell from the sky near the crowd at the annual air race event.

Video of the Reno Air Race Crash of Jimmy Leeward in the “Galloping Ghost” P-51 Mustang.

The NTSB is currently investigating the cause of the crash. Eye witnesses, including those who filmed video of the crash and the aftermath, said that the plane fell almost straight down into the ground after veering slight off course.

As part of the race, pilots are required to keep ensure that their flight path does not get too close to the crowd. However from the accounts reported it appears that this aircraft, known as the “Galloping Ghost” had strayed over the boundries of the race course just before the crash.

There have also been some reports of a ‘may-day’ call from Leeward of the aircraft before the crash which indicate that a mechanical issue may have led to the accident and caused the aircraft to stray off course.

From the video of the crash, the aircraft appears to have stalled just prior to nosing over into the ground. This is a condition in which there is not sufficient airflow over the wings to create lift.

While it is only speculation, if there was a malfunction affecting the operation of the engine of the aircraft and the pilot was maneuvering abruptly to avoid the crowd on the ground, it is possible that he may have inadvertently bled off all of the airspeed trying to get away from the crowd.

Only the NTSB report will have the final word on the cause of the crash, but as safety conscious as these pilots are, it is likely that the final moments of pilot Jimmy Leeward’s life were spent fighting to keep the spectators on the ground safe from harm.