Reno starting on a sad note

[evangilder]

N.J. pilot flying 'Little Lynn' when it crashed

An accomplished 32-year-old aerobatic pilot and flight instructor died Saturday morning after the wings of her single engine-plane snapped off while rolling the aircraft through the air near Reno Stead Airport.

Erica Simpson died when her airplane, "Little Lynn," crashed at 9 a.m. while undergoing a check ride to certify her and her home-built plane for the upcoming air races, Reno Championship Air Race officials said.

N.J. pilot flying 'Little Lynn' when it crashed | www.rgj.com | Reno Gazette-Journal

Joe, you be careful out there buddy. Keep an eye out for everyone.

As exciting as Reno is every year, I always get nervous before it. I have a lot of friends going up this year to race and last year was not a good year for it.

 

[B-17engineer]

How did the wings snap so easily?

 

[wilbur1]

that is very tragic, so young too

 

[evangilder]

Speculation is aileron flutter. It can shake enough to snap the wings off. But no one knows for sure at this point.

 

[v2]

 

[B-17engineer]

ok

 

[Marcel]

Not a good omen. Hopefully this will be the only one this year.

 

[comiso90]

The Reno Air Races are on the edge of the performance envelope.
She died doing what she loves... we should all be so lucky. Lets hope that they're no more fatalities this year,

 

[CharlesBronson]

Home-built planes are a risky bussines, my sympathies.

 

[Heinz]

 

[Micdrow]

 

[Gnomey]

Sad to hear, lets hope there isn't anymore

 

[Flyboy2]

Sad when a good pilot goes down

 

[ToughOmbre]

Sad news

TO

 

[machine shop tom]

Some people in another forum are using this tragedy to question whether or not to ban air racing.

They have no clue.

tom

 

[ccheese]

I understand it was a home-built job. Too bad, she was so young.

Charles

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Hey folks - I have limited time on the Internet, working my butt off - I'll post on my other Reno thread. I heard they lightened up the wings on her aircraft and she went out to test it. I spoke to a couple of guys on a formula team who saw it and they said the wings literary snapped off.

 

[lesofprimus]

Jesus Christ, what a ride she must have had... Im wondering if this same sort of thing has happened before, lightening the wings and the associated crash...

 

[Soundbreaker Welch?]

stall, then terrible spin.............

 

[Thorlifter]

What a tragedy.