You've probably heard about the recent fatal accident at the Reno Air Race.

The 74-year old stunt pilot and 10 other people died when the plane he was flying lost control and crashed into VIP boxes set up in front of the stands. There wasn't a fire, the plane instantly disintegrated, with parts and shrapnel injuring about 70 people. Initially 2 spectators and the pilot were reported dead, but over the next few days the death toll climbed, ending at 11 so far.

The air race involves modified airplanes flying around pylons at low altitude, about 500 miles an hour. This particular airplane, a World War II fighter plane was recently modified to increase its speed. The FAA and air race officials signed off on the modifications. Investigators have determined that a piece of the tail came off as the plane came around to the home stretch, causing the plane to shoot upwards to 1000 feet, stall, and nosedive straight down to earth.

Some of the observers said the pilot was a hero because he steered the plane to avoid the stands, decreasing the number of injuries. But now investigators are saying the g-forces of that abrupt climb would have knocked the pilot out, and he was unconscious within moments of the sudden climb.

Air shows and air races are dangerous events, and 17 people have died at the Reno Air Races since its start in 1964, but none of them were spectators. My dad went to that race every year and enjoyed it a lot because it was an excuse to fly his own plane somewhere and be around ariplanes and other pilots. I don't know if he usually sat in the stands or the VIP seats down on the tarmac. If he'd been there and died, he would have been doing something he loved, and would rest in peace. I hope this is the case with those who died there last Saturday.