Two experienced racing pilots deviated from their expected flight paths and never saw each other before their World War II-era planes collided on the final day of the 2023 National Championship Air Races, investigators have concluded.

The National Transportation Safety Board issued a final report Wednesday on the crash at Nevada's Reno-Stead Airport that killed California pilots Chris Rushing, 65, and Nick Macy, 67, as they prepared to land.

The report said both pilots failed to fly the standard routes, with one of the pilots taking a wide turn and the other taking a tighter approach. Rushing had just won the T-6 title race at an average speed of 234 mph (376 kph) in his plane named Baron’s Revenge. Macy, in his Six-Cat, had finished second about 15 seconds behind Rushing.

Officials in

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