See Sterns & Walker article on the Reno Air Show Crash

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Some preliminary and sadly, not encouraging observations about Reno Air Show Disaster.

Air shows, when races are involved, are indeed something very different. Lots of people enjoy air shows; that is to see vintage planes, flybys, perhaps aerial stunts, far off and at a safe distance.  But air races, such as we see at Reno, are absolute tinderboxes, accidents just looking for a place to happen. In the typical race course, old aircraft, usually warplanes from the WW II and Korean eras, and presumably restored and fully airworthy (?) fly at very high speeds, at very low altitude, on courses where sharp turns and banks have to be made as the race maneuvers around pylons and other marks, not unlike a barrel racer horse in a rodeo.

The problem with all this however, as so horribly demonstrated at Reno, is that spectators are allowed, actually encouraged to get a vantage point right down on the race course, but several feet or yards from these maybe 500 mph missiles, each trying to overtake the other. This is a formula for disaster, as now we are clearly shown.

Formula one and stock car races also zoom about and challenge each other in the same fashion, and inevitably there are crashes and pile ups, but the out of control cars do not get into the stands where are the spectators. They bounce off solid walls to crash into each other.

There will be a huge legal and moral fallout from the Reno disaster. The costs of the carnage are going to very high, and who is going to pay for this? Is there a responsible authority with resources or insurance to cover all this damage?  To what extent is the FAA involved, for maybe sponsoring and allowing this sort of potential mayhem? Families seeking recourse are most likely to find that the FAA, as a governmental agency "regulating" aviation, is totally immune from any civil claims. As to any adequate insurance that might have been on the P51 Mustang that crashed, or its pilot, forget that. No chance.

Let us hope that some organization responsible for this race was able to procure adequate insurance through a special policy to cover just such a totally foreseeable event. There have been other similar disasters with large crowds. The awful burden of the deaths and the carnage should not fall on these innocent victims.

For now, however, we are going to have to watch and wait to see how all this plays out.

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With locations in Oakland and San Francisco, California, the Law Offices of Sterns & Walker represent victims of aviation accidents and other catastrophes, and their families, in the United States and abroad.  Whether the case arises out of a major airline disaster or an incident involving a private plane, or helicopter, we have the experience to obtain recovery on behalf of our clients.

Since its founding in 1977, Sterns & Walker has negotiated settlements and achieved verdicts in hundreds of aviation cases around the world--including almost every major air carrier accident of the past three decades.  We handle some of the most complex, time-consuming, and resource-intensive torts found in the field of civil law, frequently working in association with local counsel to broaden the scope of our capabilities.  In recognition of their work, members of our firm are listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, have been selected for inclusion in Northern California Super Lawyers, and are the recipients of Martindale-Hubbell's prestigious AV peer rating, indicating the highest levels of legal ability, professionalism and ethical standards.  For the convenience of our broad client base, our staff is fluent in a variety of languages, including Spanish, French, Armenian, and German. We take cases on a contingency basis, meaning that unless our clients obtain recovery, we do not collect legal fees.

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