Plane Crashes Into Crowd at Nevada Air Race, Injuring More Than 75

Fox ^

[nuconvert]

DEVELOPING: RENO, Nev. -- An airplane crashed Friday into a crowd attending an air race here, injuring dozens in what one event official described as a "mass-casualty situation."

A medical official later said more than 75 people had been injured, including 25 critically. There was no official word on deaths, though one report put the toll as high as 12 and the crash near the grandstands left a horrific scene of bodies and wreckage.

[Yosemitest]

Take a look at this photo, and consider the size of the wake.
Also realize that the wake is behind the aircraft and much larger than the aircraft.
Also realize that the aircraft is probably in level flight at just above landing speed.



Here's another photo to consider.



Realize that the larger vortices at the wingtips are NOT visible in this second photo.

What's my point? My point is to consider:

where the "Galloping Ghost was in the race, and how many aircraft were ahead of him.
How many loops had they made around the pylons?
In other words, how tore up was the air where the modified P-51 Mustang first encountered its roll (the point of the wake turbulence encounter)?

[hattend]

All you have to do is talk to the race pilots. They all say wake avoidance is paramount and most have encountered it on the race course

About 5 minutes before the unlimited racers were brought onto the race course by the pace plane the color commentator was asked by the announcer if they preferred more wind or calm conditions and the guy said they prefer it windy as it blows the wake turbulence off the course

We thought about that later and said it may have been prophetic

[hattend]

I also remember listening to a pilot at the award ceremony saying that following Rare Bear on the course was the roughest ride he has ever had.
It’s annecdotal but there it is

Galloping Ghost had just passed the Bear on the back stretch so it doesn’t apply here