Tragedy Strikes at National Championship Air Races as Two Pilots Killed in Mid-Air Collision

Two pilots were killed Sunday when their planes collided upon landing at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada, race organizers said. The T-6 class of racing pits “stock,” propeller-driven North American Aviation T-6 Texan aircraft, first flown as training planes in the prewar era, in contests of speed and agility.

The crash occurred around 2:15 p.m. local time in a “landing accident” following the T-6 Gold Race at the National Championship Air Races, the association said. The planes collided in mid-air, the Federal Aviation Administration said, and the wreckage of the planes ended up about a half mile from each other, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Racing was suspended as first responders and investigators descended on the scene at Reno Stead Airport, the association said. The pilots were identified by the air racing association as Nick Macy and Chris Rushing.

The National Championship Air Races is an annual event that draws pilots from around the world to compete in a variety of aircraft classes. The T-6 class is the most popular, with pilots flying the planes in a series of races and aerial maneuvers.

The Reno Air Racing Association said it was deeply saddened by the crash and extended its condolences to the families of the pilots. The association said it was working with the FAA and NTSB to investigate the cause of the crash.