FAA, NTSB had cleared races to continue after fatal crash
The National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada, were given the go-ahead to continue after a fatal midair collision that claimed the lives of two veteran pilots, Chris Rushing and Nick Macy. The families of the pilots expressed their desire for the races to continue, and both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) cleared the event to proceed.
The collision occurred just outside of the race course as the pilots were preparing to land after the race had ended. Rushing and Macy were both longtime participants and winners in the race, with Rushing being the defending champion. The incident involved a single-engine North American T-6G and a single-engine North American T-6B.
The Reno Air Racing Association, organizers of the annual event, released a statement saying, “We made the decision to cancel the rest of the event out of an abundance of caution and respect for all of our racers and families.” They also expressed their appreciation for the support of the fans and volunteers over the years.
Chairman and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association, Fred Telling, who is also a close friend of the pilots, expressed his desire to know what led to the post-race landing accident. He hopes that the investigations conducted by the FAA and NTSB will provide answers.
Telling described Rushing and Macy as skilled pilots who were always ready to help others become better aviators. He emphasized the trust and camaraderie within the racing community, even though they compete against each other in the sky.
The exact location of the collision has not been disclosed, but it was confirmed that no one on the ground was injured. The planes involved were T-6 Texans, which were used to train pilots in World War II. The T-6 planes can reach speeds of over 200 mph.
The National Championship Air Races in Reno has been an annual event since 1964, with only two cancellations in its history – once for 9/11 and once in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority’s board of trustees voted to end the event, citing challenges such as increased insurance costs and regional growth. The Reno Air Racing Association has expressed its commitment to finding a new location for the event in the future.
Despite the tragic end to this year’s event, Telling and other pilots have vowed to honor the skills and passion for aviation demonstrated by Rushing and Macy. The racing community remains united and determined to continue racing in the future. Several communities have already expressed interest in hosting the 2025 national championship.