"I was ... preparing to die," witness at Nevada air race crash says

A pilot lost control of his vintage plane

Nevada, (ASiana),A pilot lost control of vintage aircraft in the sky over the Reno air races, and fell to the thousands of spectators
At least three people were killed and 54 people injured, officials said shortly after the crash Friday in the National Championship Air Races and Air Show.
But the death toll could rise and there may be a "mass casualty," the office said.
The pilot, identified as Jimmy Leeward, a property developer from Ocala, Fla., was killed in the crash, according to official figures showed. Witness: We just saw many people die Witness: Pilot trying to save lives Witness: 'horrible' scene after the accident The plane crashed in the Nevada air show
74-year-old flew P-51 Mustang. This event has been canceled and memorial service will be held for pioneering Saturday afternoon, showed the word.
The day before the accident, in an interview from TV Airshow, Leeward expressed confidence in the prospects in the race - while hinting that his troops will fly faster in the future.
"We as soon as people in the field, and perhaps even sooner," he said. "We've been playing poker since last Monday, so we are ready to show more partner cards (so) we'll see what happens."
Several witnesses called the pilot a hero because he maneuvered the plane away from the podium at the last lot. 

Ben Cissell said the plane crashed about 100 yards from where he sat.
"I think that the pilot at the last stop because he saw a bench and kept at about 200 or 300 other people," said Cissell.
"I do not mean as disrespect to the other people were injured, but the pilot was a hero he saved many lives today .. It could have been worse."
Kim Fonda said she also saw the plane sped toward the place he was sitting in the stands.
"I closed my eyes and said I was going to die now," says Fonda. "I really prepare to die and then he jerked away and the plane landed like 25 feet from us I want his family to know that he is a hero .."
A hospital Reno said Friday night at his place that he had received "a total of 25 patients' after the plane crashed. It said two people, one male and one female, has died.
The patients included 12 people in critical condition, which means their vital signs "are not within normal limits," and 11 in fair condition, showed stable vital signs, according to an update on the famous site Regional Medical Center.
Four patients in fair condition, hospital says.
St. Mary's Hospital in Reno said it had received 25 patients from the accident Friday night. A hospital spokeswoman did not release the patient's condition.
Video of the crash, posted on YouTube, shows the plane fell from the sky, sending up clouds of dust and debris. Surprised the audience stood up. Deaths reported after air show crash "Mass casualties' after plane crash Nevada deadly plane crash at air show