This newly released photograph has raised concerns that the recent deadly crash at the Nevada air race may have been caused by a defective cockpit seat. The pilot, Jimmy Leeward, should have been seen in the cockpit even if he had passed out in the Galloping Ghost, his vintage WWII-era P-51 mustang.
Ten people were killed and 70 wounded in the horrific crash. The new theory of aviation mechanic J.R. Walker is that the seat slipped back so that Leeward lost control of the plane.
Such accidents raise complex questions of negligence. Flying was historically treated as a strict liability activity and the organizers of the race are the most obvious targets of a lawsuit as well as the estate of the plane owner. While these planes are antiques, they have to meet some minimal standards of airworthiness. If the seat is original, a product liability claim would be difficult. Accidents caused by car antiques can raise the same complexities. On one hand, they are allowed to be driven without all of the protection of modern cars and yet their owners can be sued for accidents. Insurance companies have separate policies for covering antique vehicles and that has been litigation over the scope of such policies as in Sanner v. Zurich-American Ins. Co., 657 So. 2d 252 (1995). In a Lexis/Nexis search, I could not find any case where liability turned on the reduced visibility or capability of antique cars.
The first question will be, if it was a seat malfunction, whether the seat was original or a newer retrofit to explore a product claim. However, even if the seat were new, installation could have been the cause unless there is a foreseeable misuse claim. Usually, counsel would be less interested in the pilot or his estate than “deeper pockets” who can support damages for the scores of injured or killed persons. That would focus attention on the organizer of the event in allowing plane courses to come too close to the stands or not confirming pilot or plane worthiness. It is unclear whether any elements are present in the case.
I’m sorry.
Otteray Scribe,
I am so sorry to have read of the loss of your wife, it is too much for one to suffer, for you have lost both your son and grandson way too soon. My heart goes out to you and your family; you have my deepest condolences.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= B8eja2tB1Gw
http://www.avweb.com/news/reno2002/183113-1.html
Reno Air Races in sept.1998 in the Unlimited Heat 3c Gold Race of 5 laps. Bob Hannah was flying a P-51 called Voodoo in which it`s Left Elevator trim tab departed the aircraft as a direct result of Flutter which also cause the Left Tourque-Tube too break. When that Happened the plane went into a Very High G-Pull-Up which knocked Bob Hannah out if not for Bob Hannah reducing the power when he came too. We may have lost him as we`ll that day. Get more info about it via thru. Avweb and Air Classics magazine the 1998 Reno Edition.
raff, after WW-II there were all kinds of experimental projects. Work with ram jets was a big thing and they hung ramjets on all kinds of surplus high performance planes. Thing about ram jets, unlike turbines they have few moving parts and in theory can generate a lot of thrust. However, in order to even start a ram jet they have to be moving very fast through the air to start the ignition and thrust process. It was ideal to hang the things on high speed fighters for experimental purposes. It would not surprise me to learn that since they were tried on many of the faster WW-II warbirds, Mustangs would have been a logical choice. As far as I know,most ram jet projects fell by the wayside. The SR-71 is a brilliant exception. It uses a turbine jet engine at slower speeds, but at high speeds the engine converts itself to a ramjet. What has been made public is that ram jet experiments are continuing, the latest being the hypersonic SCRAM jet.
OS,
Were there ever any plans to put jet engines on a P-51?
Beautiful plane, OS.
Forgot to add links. The background music that plays automatically is the Cole Porter tune, Begin the Beguine. Part of that score was painted down the side of Bill Odom’s P-51 race plane. Pictures of the plane are shown about halfway down the page as well as the crash site still burning.
http://www.cnac.org/odom01.htm
Yet Another Pilot sez: “Tragic accident which I hope does not cause a knee-jerk reaction against race or airshow events.”
**************************************
Anyone else here old enough to remember Bill Odom and his race plane Begin the Beguine? It had part of the Cole Porter score painted down the side of the plane. The horrific crash of that P-51 in September 1949 ended the historic Cleveland Air Races. After the outcry about the danger, the races were moved to Reno, Nevada thinking the desert would be a better venue than a large city.
I hope the outcry this time–and there will be one–will result in cooler heads prevailing. The desert is safer than holding the race in a city. Racing is a dangerous sport for both competitor and spectator. It is part of the price of your ticket. In the Indianapolis 500 several years ago a race car ended up in the stands. In April 2009, Carl Edwards became airborne in a NASCAR race but the heavy fence kept his car out of the front row seats, although some spectators were nicked by flying car parts.
The Reno Air Races are billed as the world’s fastest motorsport with good reason. Where else can aviation and race fans get to see some of the best flying in the world, marked by the snarl of big round engines as well as the song of the Rolls-Royce Merlin? And like NASCAR and IRL racing have contributed safety innovations that end up in your family car; many safety features that affect all air travelers have come from racing airplanes.
OS is correct, Ralph is a thundering idiot. G-induced LOC or possibly neck-snap due to sudden climb caused by loss of elevator trim tab. The “missing” pilot is not missing; he is either slumped forward or jammed backward in a possibly-broken seat.
The pilot was not in control of the airplane beginning shortly after the onset of the climb. Unfortunately, he probably did very little in the way of “steering to avoid he crowd” – the plane merely completed an uncontrolled climb-to-inverted and continued straight down under race power (NTSB preliminary statement). Had the pilot been conscious or able to manipulate the controls at any time during the final seconds, first instinct – ingrained through decades of training and experience – would be to pull power. Didn’t happen.
Tragic accident which I hope does not cause a knee-jerk reaction against race or airshow events.
-PP/SEL, former USAF, CAP
None of the wing nor stabilizer is missing except for the trim tab. The wings were clipped (shortened) but it is easy to see the rectangular notch in the trailing edge of the elevator missing. That is where the trim tab had been before it departed the airplane only a few seconds before. There is been a widely distributed photo of the trim tab just as it was separating from the airplane. Here is a link to that photo.
http://www.examiner.com/aviation-in-reno/last-photo-of-galloping-ghost-shows-left-elevtor-trim-tab-trouble
My point was that with all the speculation about the seat back giving way, I had not seen evidence of that, and where Jimmy was in the cockpit was the subject of discussion. I had seen photos of the plane inverted, but none I had seen were clear enough or large enough to see inside the cockpit. With the clear photo of his helmet all the way forward against the instrument panel explains where he was. The seat held, but he was so far forward in the cockpit his helmet was below the rim of the cockpit where you cannot see him. He was literally squashed down. All the speculation about him controlling the plane appears to be incorrect given his position in that cockpit and the likely blackout from the high G forces.
Here is a close-up of what the trim tab is supposed to look like. This is not the same airplane, but is one in British markings on display.
http://www.grubby-fingers-aircraft-illustration.com/images/Mustang_VH-JUC_14_med.jpg
anon
try horizontal stabilizer, the wing is the big one towards the front.
Damn weird typo ruined everything. Stupid fingers.
Okay, I’ll say it again now that I ruined it just for closure:
OS, that’s not a new photograph, that was remarked on several times when it came out.
Of course, I don’t know how people can look at that photograph and not notice most of the wing is missing.
OS, that’s not a new photograph, that was remarked on several times when it came out.
Of course, I don’t know how people can look at that photograph and not notice most of the week is missing.
OS,
Amen!
OS,
Some people have the depth of a cenote.
Some people have the depth of a saucer.
I’m thinking ol’ Ralphing is much closer to the dinnerware end of that spectrum.
Raff and Gene: Ralphie probably will tell Capt. Erb he does not know anything either. Notice the great detail and well-reasoned arguments Ralph puts forth. The depth of analysis and experience Ralphie brings to the table is breathtaking.
That’s a no-brainer. Hands down my money is on OS.
Ralph,
Why don’t you answer the man?
OS,
My money is on you!
There is a new photo of the P-51 as it rolled inverted. You can see Jimmy’s helmet down and forward in the cockpit. Teh top of his helmet appears to be against the instrument panel. At that moment he was pulling several Gs–certainly enough to drive his head down into that position. It is clear in the new photo why his head is not visible. I was skeptical of a seat failure, although anything is possible. At the time this photo was taken, I doubt seriously he was conscious.
Note also the missing elevator trim tab and the elevators appear to be in the “up” position. It is hard to tell, but the aileron and rudder are pretty much neutral.
http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/g-cvr-110917-crash-330pm.grid-8×2.jpg
As for you, Ralphie baby, when did you learn to fly and what are your ratings? I started in 1950 and have flown both warbirds and civilian aircraft. Or is just being rude your idea of fun? Be critical all you want, but if you disagree with something, how about specifying exactly what you are disputing and back it up with some numbers.