RENO, Nev. (AP) — A former fighter pilot was killed at the Reno National Championship Air Races when his sport class racer fell apart and plunged 100 feet into sagebrush.
Tommy Rose, a member of the Mississippi Air National Guard, crashed Friday across from the grandstands at Reno Stead airport.
The plane was going 300 mph when it apparently got caught in wake turbulence, which caused the nose to bob and tail to fall off, said Reno Air Racing Association President Mike Houghton.
Rose, of Hickory, Miss., had been competing in the sport class since its inception in 1998. He was making his fourth appearance.
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It was the 15th fatality in the 39-year history of the races.