Witnesses Say Smoke Billowed From Plane After Takeoff

A California pilot practicing for Wednesday's start of the 2007 Reno National Championship Air Races was killed when his aircraft went down shortly after takeoff from Reno Stead Airport Tuesday evening.

Witnesses told the Reno Gazette-Journal the Rose Peregrine RP-5 biplane appeared to experience difficulties almost immediately after takeoff, at about 1745 local time Tuesday

"Everything looked good but at less than 100 feet black smoke started coming out of the plane," said Curtis Weinman. "I heard mayday mayday mayday on the radio. He started diving, made an aggressive descent and disappeared over the horizon."

"During takeoff it appears that he had engine problems," added Mike Houghton, president and CEO of the Reno Air Races. "It appeared there was smoke and fire. The engine stalled out. The pilot was dead on impact."

Authorities have not released the pilot's name, pending notification of family members.

Winner of the biplane class in 2003, the Rose Peregrine (shown above) is based at Montgomery Field in San Diego, and owned by David Rose. Rose was reportedly not the accident pilot.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 13NG        Make/Model: EXP       Description: ROSE PEREGRINE BIPLANE
  Date: 09/11/2007     Time: 0040

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: RENO   State: NV   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT DECLARED A MAYDAY SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE, NOSED OVER ON ATTEMPTED
  LANDING, THE ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED, RENO, NV

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

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: RENO, NV  (WP11)                      Entry date: 09/12/2007

FMI: www.airrace.org