RENO, Nev. (AP) "For the second time in three days, a pilot was killed in a crash today at the Reno National Championship Air Races.
Race officials confirmed the death but had not released the victim's name.
The jet crashed about 2:45 p.m. while competing in the second heat of the jet class, touching off a small brush fire along the runway at Stead Airport just north of Reno.
The crash, first reported on the Reno Gazette-Journal's Web site, forced the suspension of the afternoon competition.
It marked the 17th fatality in the 44-year history of the races.
Steve Dari, a pilot from Lemon Grove, Calif., was killed when his biplane stalled shortly after takeoff during a practice run at the air races on Tuesday. His fatal crash had been the first at the races since 2002.