Third Fatal Accident This Week Claims Gary Hubler
ANN
REALTIME UPDATE 09.14.07 1700 EDT: The Reno Air
Race staff has released the following statement regarding this
week's string of fatal accidents...
The Reno Air Racing Association Board of Directors and staff
expresses its heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of
the members of our pilot community who have lost their lives this
week.
It is difficult for all of us to cope with the loss of
Biplane Class racer Steve Dari, Jet Class racer Brad Morehouse, and
Formula One racer Gary Hubler. We will miss them.
We hope that their fellow race pilots, fans, and all of the
attendees who come to the National Championship Air Races for the
remainder of this week, will find some small solace in sharing the
joy of flight and the blessings of our aviation heritage while
remembering the contributions Steve, Brad and Gary made through
their participation in this event.
Race officials expect competition will continue this
weekend. Friday's air show went on as scheduled, although racing
was suspended following the accident.
Original Report
1655: Damn... For the third time this
week, there has been a fatal accident at the Reno National Air Race
Championships.
Two airplanes collided Friday morning at Reno Stead
Airport, claiming the life of five-time defending champion Gary
Hubler. The pilot of the second aircraft, identified as Jason
Somes, was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening
injuries, reports The Associated Press.
The accident occurred during the Formula One competition. Hubler
was flying "Mariah," a Cassutt III M (shown below, right). Somes
was flying "Alley Cat," an Owl OR71, according to the air race
website. He was able to make an emergency landing.
Two judges were also reportedly injured. It is not known whether
the competition would continue; the races are scheduled to conclude
this weekend.
As ANN reported Thursday, an
L-39 Albatros crashed during the jet competition, claiming the life
of pilot Brad Morehouse. Initial reports indicate Morehouse's plane
may have been caught in the wake of a jet ahead of him.
On Tuesday, pilot Steve Dari was lost when his RD-5 biplane,
"Rose Peregrine" went down just after takeoff on a practice
flight.
Friday's accident marks the 18th fatality in the 44-year history
of the Reno Air Races. Prior to this week's competition, there had
not been a fatality at Reno since 2002.