North Oaks Man's Plane Competed in Deadly Reno Air Race | News

Dr. Robin Crandall spent months getting his plane and crew ready to go to the National Championship Air Races in Reno last week. The ten person crew from Minnesota was there watching when the crash happened.

A pilot from California was racing Sawbones. The 1949 Hawker Seafury is kept at the Blaine Airport.

Members of the crew remember seeing pilot Jimmy Leeward quickly pull up and then drop into the crowd. Despite seeing the devastation, they hope the sport continues. They say pilots understand the risks of racing and injuries to fans are incredibly rare.

This event started in 1964. Before this crash, 19 pilots had died but no spectators had been injured or killed.

Leeward and ten spectators died, dozens were injured. The remaining races were canceled after the crash.