2 pilots killed in air race crash in Reno

Two pilots were killed Sunday when their planes crashed while landing at an air racing event in Reno, Nevada, the Reno Air Racing Association said.

The accident occurred around 2:15 p.m. local time during a “landing accident” following the T-6 Gold Race of the national air racing championship, the association said. The planes collided in mid-air, the Federal Aviation Administration said, and the wreckage of the planes ended up about a half-mile apart, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The pilots were identified by the air racing association as Nick Macy and Chris Rushing. The association described both men as “expert pilots and gold winners in the T-6 class.”

The T-6 is a single-engine, propeller-driven aircraft used for training by the U.S. Air Force and Navy, according to the Air Force.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the pilots were the only people on the planes. No other deaths or injuries were reported.

The remainder of the event’s races were canceled following the accident.

“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. “These two pilots were not only an integral part of the National Championship Air Race family, they were part of my family. My heart goes out to their own families and to all the spectators and fans who supported us so enthusiastically during this competition. week.”