Petrik Eye Witness To Reno Air Race Disaster

Last Friday’s airplane crash at the Reno NV National Championship Air Races had a Sidney connection. Phil Petrik, a longtime local pilot, was about one thousand yards away from where the P-51 Mustang airplane crashed into the VIP seats in front of the grandstands. Petrik was a member of the deceased pilot’s pit crew. The pilot of the crashed plane, Jimmy Leeward, was highly regarded. Many people think that Leeward attempted to steer his plummeting aircraft away from the grandstands before it made its fatal crash. Nine people (including the pilot) have died from this air race disaster, and dozens more have been injured.

Petrik speculates that Leeward’s plane hit a vortex (of disturbed air) from the airplane in front of him and/or had a malfunction of the tail’s trim mechanism. This caused his airplane to stall, violently pitch upward, and then lose control as it plummeted to the ground. It was fortunate that the plane didn’t explode or start a fire as it hit the ground. It was also fortunate that the grandstands themselves were not directly hit. There were spectators in box seats in front of the grandstands, however, and these were the ones who were impacted. Pieces of the crashing plane also shattered into the surrounding crowd area.

Petrik says this experience in Reno has been “surreal.” He can’t believe it really happened. He has known the deceased pilot for more than twenty years. The two of them have been described as “blood brothers.” They were not only good friends but they also both had P-51 Mustang airplanes. Petrik bought his Mustang from Leeward last spring. These World War II era airplanes have been extremely reliable. The only difference is that Leeward’s Mustang had been modified to allow it to race competitively.

Petrik was able to compose himself (after the accident) in order to help people around him deal with the crisis. People with physical injuries were taken away in ambulances. There were also many people who were emotionally devastated by the disaster. Petrik was, in fact, sitting right next to the pilot’s son and grandson when the accident occurred. The pilot’s entire family and close circle of friends were also seated there together (near Petrik) in the pit crew area. The entire airplane racing community, which is a close-knit group, has also been lamenting this tragedy.

As I did my phone interview with Phil Petrik, I could hear his voice tremble as he recalled the exact moment when he saw that his friend’s airplane was in trouble. As the plane pitched upward, before it made its fatal descent, Petrik prayed: “Oh God, Oh God, Don’t let it hit the crowd!” He relived the moment with me . . . realizing that his good friend, a fellow pilot, was about to lose his life, along with those spectators who happened to be in harm’s way.

Air shows have become extremely popular. Every year they attract 12 million spectators at the 350 air shows that are held in North America. Despite the fact that these shows have death-defying potential, there have not been any aircraft-related spectator deaths in this country since 1952.

Phil Petrik loves to fly. He piloted his first airplane when he was only 12 years old. And he loves to participate in air shows. He has hosted an air show, flown in them, and worked in pit crews. This disaster is obviously the worst thing that he has ever seen. The only saving grace from the Reno air disaster is the fact that the death toll could have been much worse – had the plummeting aircraft fallen directly into the grandstand area.