Second life lost at Reno air races

RENO -- For the second time in three days, a pilot has been killed in a crash at the Reno National Championship Air Races.

Brad Morehouse of Afton, Wyo., was "killed instantly" when his jet crashed about 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, touching off a small brush fire along the runway at Stead Airport north of Reno, said Michael Houghton, president of the air races.

It marked the 17th fatality in the 44-year history of the races.

Morehouse, co-owner of Afton Flight Service in Wyoming, was flying an L-39 Albatross he named "Dino Juice," a jet often used for military flight training.

The crash forced the suspension of Thursday's afternoon competition. Firefighters quickly doused the blaze.

The cause of the crash was under investigation, but race officials said the initial indication was Morehouse might have gotten caught in the wake of a jet he was tailing.

Houghton said he expected the races to resume today.

Steve Dari, a pilot from Lemon Grove, Calif., was killed Tuesday when his biplane stalled shortly after takeoff during a practice run at the air races. His fatal crash had been the first at the races since 2002.