2 pilots dead in collision during national championship air races in Nevada

Two pilots were killed Sunday when their planes collided while landing during the National Air Race Championship in Reno, Nevada, race organizers said.

The planes collided around 2:15 p.m. in a “landing accident” at the end of the T-6 Gold race, the Reno Air Racing Association said in a statement.

The two pilots were identified by the association Sunday evening as Nick Macy, who flew a plane called the Six-Cat, and Chris Rushing, who flew Baron’s Revenge. Both are said to be former class winners.

Organizers canceled the rest of the races, which were previously scheduled to end at the end of the day.

“I am completely devastated and heartbroken today,” Fred Telling, president of the Reno Air Racing Association and president of the T-6 class, said in a statement.

He added: “These two pilots were not only an integral part of the National Air Racing Championship family, they were part of my family.”

No other deaths or injuries were reported.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it would investigate.

The T-6 class of races pits “original” aircraft, propeller-driven North American Air Force T-6 Texan aircraft, first flown as trainers in the pre-war era. war, in competitions of speed and agility.

The annual races began on Wednesday.

On September 18, 2022, an Aero L-29 Delfín jet racing on final crashed behind a residential area in Reno, killing the pilot.

In 2011, several spectators were killed when a 1940s model plane crashed on a crowded tarmac at the event. Nine people, including at least seven on the ground and the pilot, were killed.