Was the Tragedy at the Reno Air Show Preventable?

The California plane crash lawyers at Sterns and Walker are investigating the crash of a vintage World War II aircraft at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada. At least 11 people were killed, and dozens were injured when the plane nosedived into a seating area in the VIP section.

In hindsight, it is fortunate that the plane did not crash into the main grandstands. If it had, the death toll would have been much higher, possibly even in the hundreds. As it played out, when the plane crashed, there were dozens of spectators in the seating area, and at least three people, including the pilot, died instantly. One would hope the Federal Aviation Administration will finally open its eyes to the plummeting safety standards at these air races, and the unreasonably risks posed to spectators who are often allowed to be seated in areas that are simply far too dangerous.   

Air races as spectator events are increasing in popularity in the United States. There are approximately 400 air shows held in the country annually, and attendance at these shows is at record highs. During the 2009 season, there was a 15% increase in attendance at air shows.
While spectatorship numbers have increased and profits have soared, California plane crash lawyers have not noticed any corresponding increase in safety standards at these air races. The National Championship Air Races, where this particular tragedy occurred, has been the scene of fatal tragedies in the past. At least four pilots were killed in crashes between 2007 and 2009 at this air show. While experienced pilots may understand the extreme risk of piloting an aging airplane a few feet off the ground, at speeds exceeding the design limits of the aircraft, spectators are forced to rely upon the organizers of the event and the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure adequate safety measures are in place.

Unfortunately, air show organizers seem more interested in profit than safety. The thrills that thousands of Americans seem to gain from watching high-speed airplanes performing dangerous aerial acrobatics, have translated into hefty profits indeed. Many spectators are prepared to pay even more money for seats placed unreasonably close to highly dangerous aerial maneuvers. Organizers seem far too willing to risk the lives of air race visitors in exchange for a few extra dollars added to the ticket price. The real tragedy of the Reno plane crash is that such a tragedy was not only foreseeable, but should have been expected.

Many air show organizers tend to hide behind a disclaimer that says that spectators should be aware that these are dangerous and risky shows. This is inexcusable. The companies profiting from these events must be held accountable for any accidents that endanger the safety of spectators. In this case, many of the risks to the spectators could have been eliminated by simply seating spectators further away from the direct path of the planes, even if it meant lower thrills. A simple disclaimer does not adequately inform the public that in their zeal to win a race, a pilot may decide to take spectator safety into his own hands and push his aircraft beyond the limits not only of safe flight, but beyond the limits of physics.

As is the case in many disasters, there were numerous people and organizations who could have prevented this tragedy simply by pointing out the obvious dangers of placing “VIP” seating within a stone’s throw of adrenalin-pumped pilots racing for a win. As our investigations continue, we will be probing who was responsible for laying down the safety regulations at this particular air race. A company that organizes air shows for profit cannot leave safety to a 74-year-old pilot, who is flying an aging, amped-up World War II plane, no matter how many years of flying experience he may have. It is still not clear what kind of liability insurance the organizers of the crash had in place for a situation like this, provided they even had the foresight to anticipate such a tragedy in the first place.   

Apart from the organizers, other parties may responsible for the deaths and injuries that have occurred in this plane crash. The public normally relies upon the Federal Aviation Administration to prevent air crashes. Representatives of the FAA attended the air race and yet allowed the event to proceed, despite the clear risks to the public. The authorities at Reno Stead Airport have the responsibility to protect visitors and aviators using its facilities, yet they too apparently failed to act.

The preventable tragedy at the National Championship Air Races in Reno demonstrates the dire need to protect spectators and pilots at airshows around the country. It is simply inexcusable for authorities and organizers forego their responsibility for public safety and simply hope that pilots racing antique aircraft at 500 miles per hour will have the skills to avoid taking other lives with them in the milliseconds before plummeting into the ground.

If you were injured, or a loved-one was killed in the Reno air race crash, it is critical to contact an experienced airplane crash lawyer at the Law Offices of Sterns and Walker as soon as possible. Our investigations into the National Championship Air Races are ongoing and we will seek to hold responsible all those who could have prevented this tragedy.

For more information on Gerald Sterns see: Reno Air Race Plane Crash Lawyer