NTSB releases early summary of Reno air crash

LAS VEGAS — Federal investigators are looking at evidence that a piece fell off a modified World War II-era airplane before it crashed into spectators during air races in Reno last week.

Eleven people were killed, including the pilot.

A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report released Friday says 66 people received serious injuries.

The specific number of injured is included in the short NTSB summary of evidence collected since the Sept. 16 crash during the National Championship Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport.

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Investigators from the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration examined the wreckage on-site, documented the debris field, and identified various components of the airplane's control system and control surfaces.

The wreckage was removed to a secure storage facility for detailed examination at a later date.

The report also notes that investigators are trying to extract clues about the crash from an onboard data box, which was damaged, and camera equipment believed to be from the plane. The data box, camera memory cards, and numerous still and video recordings were sent to the Vehicle Recorders laboratory for evaluation.

CBS Affiliate KTVN reports the airplane's ground crew noted that the airplane had a telemetry system that broadcast data to a ground station as well as recorded it to a box on board the airplane. The crew provided the ground station telemetry data, which includes engine parameters and global positioning satellite system data to the NTSB for analysis.

Florida pilot Jimmy Leeward was among those killed when his P-51 Mustang fighter crashed nose-first into a section of VIP box seats.