AOPA’S AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE RELEASES EARLY ANALYSIS: JET CRASH AT RENO AIR RACES VIDEO

An Aero Vodochody L–29 Super Delfin crashed at the Stihl National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada. No injuries on the ground were reported. Sadly, air race competitor and 2021 Rookie of the Year Aaron Hogue was killed in the accident.

“In Early Analysis: Jet Crash at Reno Air Races, the AOPA Air Safety Institute wants to help pilots understand what is known about the accident. We look at factors that are likely to be the subject of an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board,” said AOPA's ASI Senior Vice President Richard McSpadden.

The L-29 was in a tight competition for the overall trophy during the final heat of the Jet Gold race. In between Outer Pylons 4 and 5, the pilot initiated an unusual right-hand turn. He rolled out of the turn and began climbing to the outside of the track, then reversed to the left. The pilot appeared to attempt to reenter the race, pulling hard left, which was then followed by a relaxing of the turn and a continuous descent into the desert floor.

McSpadden added that, “The pilot may have experienced G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) that is impacted by factors such as fatigue, dehydration, nutrition, and fitness level. In addition, G-tolerance varies from day to day and can change in flight,” he concluded. “His hard turn followed by a relaxing of the turn and steady descent to the crash is a classic G-LOC profile. Or perhaps there was some type of structural issue that prevented full control of the airplane. We’ll watch the NTSB carefully to see what they can determine as the cause.”

Early Analysis videos provide an initial assessment of prominent mishaps that generate large public interest and may provide important safety lessons for the general aviation community.

View the video here.

View other Early Analysis videos here.