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RENO, Nev. — Two airplanes collided Friday at the Reno National Championship Air Races, killing one pilot and injuring another in the third fatal crash at the event in four days.
Five-time defending champion Gary Hubler, 51, of Caldwell, Idaho, was killed in the crash shortly after 9:30 a.m. at Stead Airport just north of Reno, race officials said.
It was the 18th fatality in the 44-year history of the air races and caused the suspension of the competition for the day, but race officials said it would resume Saturday as scheduled.
The pilot of the other plane in Friday's crash was identified as Jason Somes of Simi Valley, Calif. He was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life threatening. A friend said he had an eye injury.
Hubler's plane apparently clipped the back of Somes' plane before crashing. Somes was able to land his damaged aircraft, race officials said.
"They just clipped wings barely," said witness Carter Fox. "One immediately went down to the ground."
Two judges on the ground also suffered minor injuries from flying debris. One refused medical attention, and the other was treated at the scene.
FOXNews.com - Third Fatal Crash at Nevada Air Races - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News (http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Sep15/0,4670,AirRacesCrash,00.html - broken link)
That's so sad. I'm a big fan of air racing but it is very dangerous and crashes do happen occasionally. Unfortunately, unlike most other forms of racing, when someone crashes in a plane they very rarely walk away.
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