• 18
  • January
    2012

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting important hearings to learn more about aviation accidents at air shows and air races. The NTSB is focused on learning about the popular industry after being tasked with investigating several fatal plane crashes at shows in 2011.

The NTSB hearing, where numerous experts in air shows and aviation will answer questions, is an effort to draw "attention to the safety issues involved in aviation event operations and provide NTSB members and investigative staff with a deeper understanding of regulations, protocols and practices used in the planning and operations of air shows and air races," NTSB spokesperson said.

The Reno National Championship Air Races accident was one of the most fatal plane shows in U.S. history. Eleven people were killed and 70 people were injured when a plane crashed into the VIP seating for the event. In 2011, there were eight accidents at air shows and air races.

The danger of air show and air race crashes is that there is a greater likelihood that show attendees will be hurt or killed when a plane crashes. Unlike commercial or single plane accidents, usually only the passengers and the pilots are injured or killed in the crash. The collection of evidence and information by the NTSB will aid in their investigations of the plane accidents in 2011.

Source: USA Today, "NTSB meeting 'bigger' than the air races," Martha Bellisle, 1/9/2012