Valley Air Derby

Come Saturday, they will check their navigational equipment one last time, review flight plans, collect good-luck kisses from their husbands and boyfriends, and give their light planes full throttle as they head north into hoped-for blue skies. They are the women pilots who will be competing in a daylong air race from Van Nuys Airport to Mesquite, Nev., about 90 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

Federal aviation officials were investigating the possibility of engine trouble in a plane that crashed during an air race, killing two local women and a man from Great Britain. The crash in the Nevada desert Saturday was the first fatal accident in the 17-year history of the Valley Air Derby, a race flown out of Van Nuys Airport and sponsored by the Ninety Nines, an all-women flying group.

Federal aviation officials were investigating the possibility of engine trouble in a plane that crashed during an air race, killing two local women and a man from Great Britain. The crash in the Nevada desert Saturday was the first fatal accident in the 17-year history of the Valley Air Derby, a race flown out of Van Nuys Airport and sponsored by the Ninety Nines, an all-women flying group.

Federal aviation officials were looking for clues Sunday after a plane, possibly suffering from engine trouble, crashed in Nevada during an air race, killing two Los Angeles women and a man from Great Britain. It was the first fatal accident in the 17-year history of the Valley Air Derby, a race flown out of Van Nuys Airport and sponsored by the Ninety Nines, an all-women flying group. "Everyone has just been devastated by this," said Mary Rawlings, co-chairwoman of the race.

Frank Kelly entered the 16th Valley Air Derby in Van Nuys last month because he thought it would be "fun." But it was the pinpoint navigation Kelly conducted inside his blue and white Piper Dakota that earned the Granada Hills resident a first-place award. "I knew we would place, but we didn't expect to place first," said Kelly, who shared the title with co-pilot Larry Selznick of Newhall.

Federal aviation officials were looking for clues Sunday after a plane, possibly suffering from engine trouble, crashed in Nevada during an air race, killing two Los Angeles women and a man from Great Britain. It was the first fatal accident in the 17-year history of the Valley Air Derby, a race flown out of Van Nuys Airport and sponsored by the Ninety Nines, an all-women flying group. "Everyone has just been devastated by this," said Mary Rawlings, co-chairwoman of the race.

The two women in identical hot pink jump suits emptied their purses, dumping out all the change and miscellaneous junk that seems to mysteriously breed therein. But their intent was not to tidy up their personal belongings. Melody Rich and Mardell Haskins were intent on winning the annual Valley Air Derby, which attracted 66 pilots and co-pilots and their small planes to Van Nuys Airport on Saturday. Any extra weight can slow a racing plane.

Frank Kelly entered the 16th Valley Air Derby in Van Nuys last month because he thought it would be "fun." But it was the pinpoint navigation Kelly conducted inside his blue and white Piper Dakota that earned the Granada Hills resident a first-place award. "I knew we would place, but we didn't expect to place first," said Kelly, who shared the title with co-pilot Larry Selznick of Newhall.

Come Saturday, they will check their navigational equipment one last time, review flight plans, collect good-luck kisses from their husbands and boyfriends, and give their light planes full throttle as they head north into hoped-for blue skies. They are the women pilots who will be competing in a daylong air race from Van Nuys Airport to Mesquite, Nev., about 90 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

The two women in identical hot pink jump suits emptied their purses, dumping out all the change and miscellaneous junk that seems to mysteriously breed therein. But their intent was not to tidy up their personal belongings. Melody Rich and Mardell Haskins were intent on winning the annual Valley Air Derby, which attracted 66 pilots and co-pilots and their small planes to Van Nuys Airport on Saturday. Any extra weight can slow a racing plane.