Pilot Killed during Race Prep
What: Home built single-engine Cassult IIIM
Where: Reno Stead Airport in Nevada.
When: 9 A.M.Saturday September 6
Who: 32 year-old Phillipsburg woman pilot Erica Simpson 32, of Phillipsburg, N.J. Simpson was a commercial pilot who had competed in 2006 in the race’s biplane class.
Why:the pilot was killed when the wings broke off while she was performing a roll at the airport during a check ride in prep for the upcoming Reno Air Races. Four FAA safety officials were present. 3 pilots were killed in last year’s race, and 19 pilots in the past 45 years.