WWII plane in Reno air show crash had 'radical' changes

RENO, Nev. — The World War II-era plane that plummeted into an air-race crowd like a missile on Friday had undergone years of massive overhauls. Pilot Jimmy Leeward had said the changes made the P-51 Mustang faster and more maneuverable, but in the months before the crash even he wasn't certain exactly how it would perform.


Investigators don't yet know what caused the plane to pitch sharply into the crowd at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, killing nine people, including Leeward, and injuring dozens. Six people remain in critical condition at hospitals. Officials say 69 people were treated at hospitals, including 46 who have been released.



Leeward had said the plane underwent several years of modifications before Friday's race, including lopping 5 feet off each wing, but he hadn't revealed many of the specifics.


WWII plane in Reno air show crash had 'radical' changes 09/18/11 [Last modified: Monday, September 19, 2011 12:51am]


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