Federal investigators were on the scene of a deadly air show in Nevada on Saturday in efforts to find out why a World War II-era fighter plane suddenly pitched upward, rolled and did a nose-dive toward the crowded grandstand.

National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Terry Williams told The Associated Press Saturday that it was too early to say what caused the crash.

Meanwhile, the death toll increased to 5 on Saturday, after two people died overnight from injuries sustained in Friday’s disaster, according to officials with Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.

More than 50 were injured and it was feared the death toll could rise even higher. A status check from the Reno hospital showed six people were listed in critical condition and two others were listed as serious, The Reno Gazette Journal reported.

Organizers of the National Championship Air Races earlier said it appeared a mechanical failure with the P-51 Mustang was to blame.

The plane, flown by a 74-year-old veteran Hollywood stunt pilot, slammed into the concrete in a section of VIP box seats and blew to pieces in front the pilot’s family and a tight-knit group of friends who attend the annual event in Reno.

“It absolutely disintegrated,” said Tim O’Brien of Grass Valley Calif., who attends the races every year. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

The crash, which happened just before 4:30 p.m. during the National Championship Air Races at the Reno-Stead Airport, left a horrific scene strewn with smoking debris.

Bloodied bodies were spread across the area as people tended to the victims and ambulances rushed to the scene. Video of the aftermath showed a man with his leg severed at the knee.

Mike Draper, a spokesman for the Reno National Championship Air Races, described the scene as “a mass-casualty situation.”

Authorities said it appeared that a mechanical failure with the P-51 Mustang — a class of fighter plane that can fly in excess of 500 mph — was to blame. The pilot, Jimmy Leeward, was among those killed.

Two others have been confirmed dead, but their identities have not been made public.

‘Big explosion’
O’Brien, who is chairman of an air show in his hometown in California, was photographing Friday’s races when the crash occurred.

He said the Mustang was racing six other planes, and was in the process of moving from third place into second, when it pitched violently upward, rolled and then headed straight down.

From the photos he took, O’Brien said it looked like a piece of the plane’s tail called a “trim tab” had fallen off. He believes that’s what caused the plane’s sudden climb.

When the aircraft hit the ground, there was a “big explosion but no fire,” O’Brien said.

“The propeller (was) spinning very fast, and there was a lot of mass coming down all at once,” he said. It was a “very violent impact.”

Liz Margerum/The Reno Gazette-Jo

Gov. Brian Sandoval noted at a news conference that area hospitals were in need of blood in the wake of the crash, and he encouraged people to donate.

“Northern Nevadans grieve again this evening with the news of casualties and injuries at the Reno Championship Air Races,” he said, according to NBC News. “My family and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families, and I know every member of the Nevada family is thinking tonight of those we have lost and those we cherish.”

Leeward, of Ocala, Fla., was a veteran airman and movie stunt pilot who named his P-51 Mustang fighter plane the “Galloping Ghost,” according to Houghton. Officials earlier said Leeward was 80.

Marilyn Newton  /  AP file

Jimmy Leeward is seen in this Sept. 15, 2010, photo with his P-51 Mustang.

Leeward, the owner of the Leeward Air Ranch Racing Team, was a well-known racing pilot. According to the Internet Movie Database, Leeward appeared in a number of movies as a stunt pilot, including “Amelia” in 2009, “The Tuskegee Airmen” in 1995 and “Smokey and the Bandit Part 3” in 1983.

‘Speed, speed and more speed’
In an interview with the Ocala Star-Banner, of Florida, last year, he described how he has flown 250 types of planes and has a particular fondness for the P-51, which came into the war relatively late and was used as a long-range bomber escort over Europe. Among the famous pilots of the hot new fighter was WWII double ace Chuck Yeager.

“They’re more fun. More speed, more challenge. Speed, speed and more speed,” Leeward said.

Leeward talked about racing strategy in an interview Thursday with LiveAirShow TV while standing in front of his plane.

“Right now I think we’ve calculated out, we’re as fast as anybody in the field, or maybe even a little faster,” he said.

“But uh, to start with, we didn’t really want to show our hand until about Saturday or Sunday. We’ve been playing poker since last Monday. And uh so, it’s ready, we’re ready to show a couple more cards, so we’ll see on Friday what happens, and on Saturday we’ll probably go ahead and play our third ace, and on Sunday we’ll do our fourth ace,” he added.

A 2010 newspaper article said that Leeward had made major modifications to his plane for racing, including shaving five feet off of each wing and reducing the canopy’s size.

His website said the plane’s engine produced 3,800 horsepower and the aircraft was rated to 550 mph. The article said that for races, Leeward was required to wear a helmet, fire protection suit, oxygen mask and parachute.

Good friend
Houghton described Leeward as a good friend.

“Everybody knows him. It’s a tight-knit family. He’s been here for a long, long time,” Houghton said.

He also said Leeward was a “very qualified, very experienced pilot” who was in good medical condition. He suggested Leeward would have made every effort to avoid casualties on the ground if he knew he was going to crash.

“If it was in Jimmy’s power, he would have done everything he possibly could,” Houghton said.

The National Championship Air Races draws thousands of people to Reno every September to watch various military and civilian planes race.

The FAA and air race organizers spend months preparing for air races as they develop a plan involving pilot qualification, training and testing along with a layout for the course. The FAA inspects pilots’ practice runs and brief pilots on the route maneuvers and emergency procedures.

Sen. Harry Reid, Rep. Mark Amodei and other officials issued statements Friday saying they were shocked and saddened by the crash.

“My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives and with those who were wounded in this horrific tragedy,” Reid said. “I am so grateful to our first responders for their swift action and will continue to monitor this situation as it develops.”

Aviation Accidents

A plane crash is one of the most devastating accidents that can occur. Usually in an airplane crash (small planes, helicopters, commercial airliners, hot air balloons etc.) all passengers and crew members are killed.

At the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler, we are experienced in aviation law with a reputation of success in aircraft accident cases. We have the knowledge and experience to identify those responsible in the airplane crash (i.e. pilot error, mechanical failure of the sircraft and/or its component parts).

If you are considering filing a claim against an airline or helicopter tour company, small aircraft company, commercial airline or a “hot air balloon company” to recover damages suffered by you or your family, seek advice from a lawyer such as Gary A Kessler who has experience in “aviation law.”

 

A  small aircraft went down Saturday in the Cleveland National Forest south of Corona, killing two people, Corona police said.

The crash occurred around 10:25 a.m. near Suzie Circle, south of East Upper Drive. It sparked a small fire in dry brush and trees, prompting a response that included air tankers and helicopters dropping fire retardant and water.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash and have not released information on the victims, but a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said Saturday afternoon that there may have been two people in the aircraft. Police later confirmed it

Russ Hoch, a Corona resident whose house overlooks the forest, said the aircraft looked like an ultralight. Hoch said his girlfriend heard the crash, and he ran out of the house to see what had happened. The aircraft had come down in a small clearing in the forest, he said.

“It looked like PVC pipe with fabric melted on it,” and the engine was lying about 15 feet behind the craft’s tail, which didn’t appear to have a number on it, Hoch said. “There was nothing identifiable.”

Planes are typically identified by a tail number that is registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Hoch said he yelled to check for any survivors but didn’t see or hear anyone, and he soon had to move away because trees were bursting into flame.

Whoever was in the aircraft may have been thrown some distance from the crash, officials said.

The fire was reported to be 3 to 5 acres and was quickly put out by firefighters from Corona, the U.S. Forest Service and state Department of Corrections hand crews.

Corona Deputy Fire Chief John Medina said three firefighters were injured by bee stings, and one was taken to a hospital. Flushed out by the smoke, the bees may have been attracted to the firefighters’ yellow Nomex jackets.

A plane crash is one of the most devastating accidents that can occur. Usually in an airplane crash (small planes, helicopters, commercial airliners, hot air balloons etc.) all passengers and crew members are killed.

At the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler, we are experienced in aviation law with a reputation of success in aircraft accident cases. We have the knowledge and experience to identify those responsible in the airplane crash (i.e. pilot error, mechanical failure of the sircraft and/or its component parts).

If you are considering filing a claim against an airline or helicopter tour company, small aircraft company, commercial airline or a “hot air balloon company” to recover damages suffered by you or your family, seek advice from a lawyer such as Gary A Kessler who has experience in “aviation law.”

With an array of engines, aviation professionals and pilot witnesses we consult with nationally recognized experts in order to isolate the causes that led to the aviation death(s).  Our office has 20 years of litigation experience providing a level of expertise unparrelled in the preparation and presentation of our client’s case.  By using multi-media technology, Gary A. Kessler presents video and Powerpoint presentations that clarify the complex issues of liability so that jurors, judges and mediators can understand.

In cases involving commercial airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be involved.  Our office knows how to professionally interact with these federal agencies and get the answers to our client’s case.

In most states, if the death of a relative or spouse was caused by an air crash, surviving family members can file a wrongful death/aviation lawsuit against the responsible parties.  In order to file a wrongful death/aviation law claim, you must be able to prove that you will experience future emotional and financial hardship because of the loss of a relative, family member or spouse.

Demand accountability from those responsible for the aviation (airplane, helicopter, hot air balloon rides, etc.) accidents.  Many times the insurance companies will play “hardball” if you try to settle the case yourself or you have employed a lawyer who does not have the litigation experience to handle such a complex case,  We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have twenty years of litigation experience and know how to handle the insurance companies to your advantage.  We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial.

Aviation law cases are complex and include many facets of the law.  It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced aviation accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.

The California aviation accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one.  The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its aviation accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your aviation accident case.

It is essential to isolate the causes of an aircraft accident. The Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler has the expert witness resources and investigation team necessary to uncover the causes of an aircraft accident. We are prepared to front the intial costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses. In an aviation accident case, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney’s fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorney’s fees or costs are owed to our firm, thus in all personal injury cases handled by the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler, our fees are recovered as a percentage of any settlement or verdict awarded to our clients.