But The Plane... Not So Much

A pilot flying in ahead of next month's Reno National Championship Air Races escaped uninjured Wednesday, after his vintage Hawker Sea Fury lost its engine on approach to the airport.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor told the Reno Journal-Gazette the aircraft (file photo of type, right) ditched near the approach end to runway 32 at Reno-Stead Airport at about 1:15 local time. The aircraft, registry N51SF, was substantially damaged, but the pilot was fortunate to escape unhurt.

The aircraft, owned by Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, TX (ADS), competed at Reno in 2005. It was registered to compete in the Unlimited Class at this year's races, which kick off September 10-14 at RNO.

Safety is on everyone's minds in the days leading up to the air races, after three pilots died in accidents at last year's event... the first fatalities at Reno since 2002. Among this year's changes are a "rookie" school, to give both new and returning pilots the chance to bone up on procedures and safety concerns prior to the races.

The Journal-Gazette adds that race officials moved two pylons, to give pilots more room to maneuver while breaking off from the pattern.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 51SF        Make/Model: EXP       Description: 1948 SEA FURY TMK20
  Date: 08/20/2008     Time: 2030

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: RENO   State: NV   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED ON DOWNWIND AND FORCE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY,
  RENO-STEAD, NV

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: RNO METAR WX 202253Z 24015G22KT 10SM FEW120 SCT250 32/04 A2991

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Landing      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: RENO, NV  (WP11)                      Entry date: 08/21/2008

FMI: www.airrace.org, www.faa.gov, www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com