Reno Air Race Crash, is the answer in this pic Options

[bill]

This is a photo of the P-51 just before the crash

anyone else notice something bad ?

(IMG:http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2011/09/17/alg_p-51-mustang-upside-down.jpg)

[GroundPounder]

To put this into perspective for you GP,

Imagine driving your car at 80 mph down a narrow road or highway. Slight pressure on your steering wheel adjusts your path. Now imagine you have a blow out on your right front tire and all that force it will take to keep the wheel straight and your car straight, you're in the weeds.

This is what it feels like if you lose a trim tab at high speed. 0 pounds of force on the yoke/stick (because it is trimmed) to perhaps 80 pounds (after losing your trim tab)... in an instant. If you dont have room to maneuver or a slow reaction time (this may be why they are looking into his age as well?), you're toast.

Godspeed Jimmy!

(and i agree paranoia, those pictures seem to be pretty sharp for an object moving at high speed.... i also find it odd that the Leeward Ranch website doesn't have a statement up as of yet)

having flown only light planes years ago, i remember the trim...vaguely, and my ride in a t-38 only hands on enough to do some aileron rolls at altitude. still, if it's an air race in a 51 the guy could not have been a novice and i would imagine he had his hand on the stick fairly securely. i don't know, it is what it is i guess.