This photo of the P-51 Mustang could show the pilot.

[warrior1]

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/16/3916653/horrific-reno-air-show-crash.html

I'm not quite sure. Need another set of eyes. He looks to be forward in this photo, if that's his head. It's the 11th photo.

[Xipe Totec]

1. Looks that way

He seems to be slumped forward.

[TheWraith]

5. A trim tab failure like that would almost certainly cause an 11 G maneuver.

The pilot would be unconscious. A human being has a hard enough time taking eight or nine Gs. Plus he would be pushed as far down into the cockpit as he could go, from the G force. Imagine how squashed you'd be if you had ten times your normal weight pushing you down.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. It looks like a helmet in a forward position to me too.

[Fumesucker]

3. Here's the best I could do on the shot I think you're talking about..

[11 Bravo]

6. Yes, the left trim tab is clearly missing from the horizontal stabilizer.

(I can't find it, but I have seen another photo showing the tab partially detached.) This may have been several things, but it was NOT pilot error.

[Old and In the Way]

8. Would the trim tab be the root cause?

I know the function of the trim tab is to reduce constant pilot inputs/corrections on the stick, but would complete failure of the trim tab lead to catastrophic and unrecoverable loss of control? It's not a direct primary control surface per se. I also heard the engine was making a gurgling noise moments before the impact...I wonder if there were other failures that created G-force stresses on the stabilizer that destroyed the trim tab in the air?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Some trim tabs do a lot more than just lower control forces required.

[benld74]

4. Yup sees that way to me as well

[warrior1]

7. yup that's the picture

and thanks.

I don't see how he was able if he was unconscious to avoid the people like they said he did. I also read that there wasn't a mayday called.

So, something went wrong with the plane he became unconscious and the plane crashed. Still I suppose he could have had a medical issue. So sad all of this.