RENO, Nev., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A pilot from San Jose, Calif. was killed on Monday at the Reno National Air Races Championship at the Reno-Stead Airport.
Officials with the air races identified the pilot as 64-year-old Lee Behel. Behel was flying a GP-5, "Sweet Dreams" during a qualifying heat of the race. It was a single plane crash and no one else was hurt.
Behel was a retired Air Force fighter pilot, a former Sport Class champion and longtime Air Race pilot.
Air Races spokesman Mike Draper said the plane went down at the north end of the airport, away from the grandstands where the fatal crash occurred in 2011 that killed pilot Jimmy Leeward and 10 spectators. In the 51-year history of the Air Races, 19 pilots have died during racing.
Air race officials said qualifying for the air races will continue as scheduled Tuesday morning, with the event opening to the public on Wednesday.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the FAA and the NTSB.
