Deluca-Owl OR-71 N1VD
14 September 2007 · Reno, Nevada, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 14 September 2007 at about 17:00 local time, a Deluca-Owl OR-71 registered N1VD was involved in an accident near Reno, Nevada, United States. 4 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Reno, Nevada, United States
- Nearest airport
- Reno/Stead Airport (4SD)
- Coordinates
- 39.6647, -119.8697
- Aircraft
- Deluca-Owl OR-71
- Registration
- N1VD
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Air Race/Show
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Reno/Stead → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA07FA264
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The failure of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain an adequate visual lookout and clearance from one another during a low altitude aerial race.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilots were participating in a low-level aerial race around pylon delineated course. Due to the wind conditions, the pilots departed in a scattered array, and then flew a teardrop pattern to begin the race. The Deluca-Owl airplane was in the lead as the group of airplanes reached the starting pylon. At the first pylon the Owl entered a left bank as the Cassutt airplane passed it on the outside and below. In this position, it would have been very difficult for the pilot of the Owl to see the Cassutt. The Cassutt was then ahead of the Owl as it continued to bank around the pylon. The Owl and the Cassutt collided at this point, and the Cassutt rolled and impacted the ground. The Owl pitched up and the pilot landed it on the side of a runway. According to race requirements, "An aircraft overtaken must not in any way impede or interfere with a faster overtaking plane. The overtaking pilot must keep the overtaken aircraft in sight at all times during the pass. An aircraft overtaking a slower aircraft will not pass between that aircraft and a pylon and will pass on the outside until the over taken aircraft is extremely wide and can be kept in sight at all times during the pass by the overtaking pilot." According to race personnel, there are no specifications for passing above or below a slower aircraft.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluca-Owl OR-71 | N1VD | - | Substantial |
| Tuttle Cassutt IIIM | N11XR | Gary Hubler | Destroyed |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 May 2007 | MD Helicopters 500-E | Yerington, Nevada, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Nov 2007 | Cessna T182T | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Dion J. DeCamp | Fatal | 2 |
| 9 Nov 2007 | Beechcraft A36 | Jean, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 2007 | Cirrus SR22 | Reno, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Sep 2007 | Socata TB20 | Beatty, Nevada, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Jul 2007 | Air Tractor AT-802A | Winnemucca, Nevada, United States | US Dept of the Interior | Minor injuries | - |