[ktsmith]

We can look at the Reno air races as an example. It's been going on for 49 years and prior to today there were 19 deaths, none involving spectators. I've been going to the races for a lot of years though we decided not to this year, the course isn't that close to the spectators and much of it happens over open desert.

[kennystone]

Yes and we can also use common sense to know an 80 year old dude flying a highly modified racing plane right above spectators is spectacularly stupid.

[0x12]

That may be true by itself but there are some eyewitness reports that actually conclude that the pilot acted in ways that greatly reduced the number of casualties. Don't be too quick to judge, it could have simply been a mechanical failure. At speeds and altitudes like that it does not take much.

[ktsmith]

You could also look at his FAA records and see that his being 74 likely had nothing to do with it:

http://www.av8rdan.com/2011/09/before-assuming-age-was-the-c...

edit: The course doesn't fly right over spectators, the plane went off course, possibly as part of what is suspected to be mechanical failure.

[webXL]

That was my first thought. I believe he was only 74 though. Probably approaching the realm of spectacularly stupid. They said his medical records were all checked out, but I bet there's a higher level of scrutiny for older pilots going forward.

[ktsmith]

Here's some information about the medical class he passed in March of this year: http://flightphysical.com/part67/Class2/67subc.htm