Deluca-Owl OR-71 accident near Reno, NV
On September 14, 2007, a Deluca-Owl OR-71 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Reno, NV. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 14, 2007
- Place
- Reno, NV
- Aircraft
- Deluca-Owl OR-71 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 39.665°N, 119.870°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070924X01441
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 14, 2007, at 1000 Pacific daylight time, a Tuttle Cassutt III M, N11XR and a Deluca-Owl OR-71, N1VD, collided in midair while racing at the Reno Air Races, Reno-Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. Both pilots were operating their airplanes under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. N11XR sustained substantial damage and the pilot was killed. N1VD was substantially damaged and the pilot received serious injuries. Two people on the ground sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplanes departed from Reno-Stead about 0955. According to race personnel standing at pylon 1, as the airplanes approached pylon 1 the two airplanes involved in the collision were leading the group. When they entered a turn for pylon 1, the airplanes collided. Following the impact, N11XR collided with the ground. N1VD pitched up and the pilot performed an emergency landing on the right side of runway 14. According to the pilot of N1VD, he was participating in the Formula 1 race. Due to the winds, they did a scattered start, which meant that they all departed, performed a teardrop pattern, and returned to start the race. When he departed, the pilot stated that the pilot of N11XR was on his left side. The pilot of N1VD was flying ahead of everyone and nearing pylon 1 to round it. As he began to roll, he heard a boom, felt a vibration, the canopy departed, and he thought the airplane was going to crash. He continued to fly the airplane, but with his right eye injured and the airflow entering the co
Probable cause
The failure of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain an adequate visual lookout and clearance from one another during a low altitude aerial race.
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Browse: Nevada
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
