# NTSB LAX94LA368: North American SNJ-5, N8540Z, Reno, NV, September 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 1994, 10:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.480819, -119.740097 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4808&lon=-119.7401&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28863 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA368 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28863/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA368 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) that the pilot of the other airplane misjudged the distance between the airplanes. The other airplane pilot's diverted attention to the air race is a factor in this accident. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) that the pilot misjudged the distance between his and the other airplane. The pilot's diverted attention to the start of the air race is a factor in this accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - residence - Midair collision, maneuvering - distance - misjudged, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - diverted attention, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) TWO AIRPLANE'S COLLIDED WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AN AIR RACE NEAR THE AIRPORT. ONE AIRPLANE'S (REFERRED TO AS #1) LEFT WING AND EMPENNANGE SEPARATED IN FLIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE; THE OTHER AIRPLANE (REFERRED TO AS #2) LANDED AT THE AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENCE. THE POSTACCIDENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION AND VIDEO TAPES OF THE OCCURRENCE SHOWED THAT AIRPLANE #1 OVERTOOK AND STRUCK AIRPLANE #2'S RIGHT WING FROM BELOW. AIRPLANE #1 PITCHED UP, THE EMPENNAGE SEPARATED, AND THE LEFT WING FOLDED. AIRPLANE #1 BEGAN TO CARTWHEEL AND SPIN UNTIL IT CRASHED. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) TWO AIRPLANE'S COLLIDED WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AN AIR RACE NEAR THE AIRPORT. ONE AIRPLANE'S (REFERRED TO AS #1) LEFT WING AND EMPENNAGE SEPARATED IN FLIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE; THE OTHER AIRPLANE (REFERRED TO AS #2) LANDED AT THE AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENCE. THE POSTACCIDENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION AND VIDEO TAPES OF THE OCCURRENCE SHOWED THAT AIRPLANE #1 OVERTOOK AND STRUCK AIRPLANE #2'S RIGHT WING FROM BELOW. AIRPLANE #1 PITCHED UP, THE EMPENNAGE SEPARATED, AND THE LEFT WING FOLDED. AIRPLANE #1 BEGAN TO CARTWHEEL AND SPIN UNTIL IT CRASHED. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On September 18, 1994, at 1010 hours Pacific daylight time, a North American SNJ-5, N8540Z, and a North American SNJ-4, N7404C, collided about 2 miles west of the Reno-Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. Both airplanes were beginning a local visual flight rules air race. N8540Z entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with a nearby home. N8540Z, registered to and operated by WW II Warbirds, Inc., Orchard Park, New York, was destroyed by the impact forces; N7404C, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard N7404C, landed the airplane at Reno-Stead Airport without further incident and he did not sustain any injuries. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant aboard N8540Z, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flights originated at Reno-Stead Airport at 1000 hours. The consensus of ground witnesses was that N8540Z overtook N7404C and struck N7404C with its left wing from below. A participating race pilot reported that the airplanes were to be lined up abreast of each other at the beginning of the race. He said that N8540Z moved out of position before the airplanes reached the visible staging area. When the airplanes reached the staging area, N8540Z appeared to move back into position, but the pilot overcorrected the alignment and struck N7404C. N7404C The pilot of N7404C submitted a National Transportation Safety Board, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 to the Safety Board's Southwest Regional Office on September 28, 1994. He said that the pace airplane just released the six SNJ's/T-6's lined up abreast each other. Then he felt ". . . a severe impact. . . " on the right wing and he saw a ". . . white flash go under my acft [aircraft] & above my canopy. . . ." The pace airplane was between 1,000 and 1,500 feet above ground level. The pilot closed the throttle and lowered the main landing gears while experiencing severe vibrations. He regained control of the airplane and flew toward Reno- Stead Airport and landed without further incident on runway 08. The airplane's left aileron and wing tip separated from their respective attach points. The right wing's leading edge from the tip to 10 1/2 feet inboard sustained substantial damage. Video Tape Two commercial broadcast stations and an individual gave the Safety Board video tapes of the accident. The commercial broadcast stations presented these videos with various angles and zoom attributes. The video tapes show that the airplanes were flying an abreast formation toward the east. Two pace airplanes, emanating trailing smoke, were on the north side of the formation. When the pace airplanes pulled out of the formation, the airplanes began to descend; N7404C trailed the other airplanes during the descent. N8540Z was behind N7404C. N8540Z began to accelerate and descend below N7404C. When N8540Z was beneath N7404C, it entered a right banking attitude and, milliseconds later, the collision occurred. N8540Z pitched upward and its vertical stabilizer and both horizontal stabilizers separated; the rudder remained connected to the airplane by its control cables. When the flight was in a near-vertical climbing attitude, the left wing folded upward, followed by the separation of the left wing's outer panel. The airplane began to cartwheel and spin until it crashed. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Reno Flight Standards District Office conducted the on-site investigation. The inspector said all the separated parts of the airplane were recovered within 300 feet of the main wreckage area. Photographs provided by the inspector show that N7404C's left aileron separated from its attachments at the collision. The undersides of both wings displayed propeller slash marks and spanwise rubbing signatures. The upper leading edge of the right wing displayed debris impact marks. The Washoe County Coroner's Office did an autopsy on the pilot of N8540Z. The pathologist did not report any findings that the pilot had any condition or disease that would have detracted from his ability to fly an airplane. The FAA, Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted toxicological examinations on the pilot of N8540Z. The examinations were negative for alcohol or drugs. Toxicological examinations on the pilot of N7404C were not conducted nor were they requested. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On September 18, 1994, at 1010 hours Pacific daylight time, a North American SNJ-5, N8540Z, and a North American SNJ-4, N7404C, collided about 2 miles west of the Reno-Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. Both airplanes were beginning a local visual flight rules air race. N8540Z entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with a nearby home. N8540Z, registered to and operated by WW II Warbirds, Inc., Orchard Park, New York, was destroyed by the impact forces; N7404C, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard N7404C, landed the airplane at Reno-Stead Airport without further incident and he did not sustain any injuries. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant aboard N8540Z, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flights originated at Reno-Stead Airport at 1000 hours. The consensus of ground witnesses was that N8540Z overtook N7404C and struck N7404C with its left wing from below. A participating race pilot reported that the airplanes were to be lined up abreast of each other at the beginning of the race. He said that N8540Z moved out of position before the airplanes reached the visible staging area. When the airplanes reached the staging area, N8540Z appeared to move back into position, but the pilot overcorrected the alignment and struck N7404C. N7404C The pilot of N7404C submitted a National Transportation Safety Board, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 to the Safety Board's Southwest Regional Office on September 28, 1994. He said that the pace airplane just released the six SNJ's/T-6's lined up abreast each other. Then he felt ". . . a severe impact. . . " on the right wing and he saw a ". . . white flash go under my acft [aircraft] & above my canopy. . . ." The pace airplane was between 1,000 and 1,500 feet above ground level. The pilot closed the throttle and lowered the main landing gears while experiencing severe vibrations. He regained control of the airplane and flew toward Reno- Stead Airport and landed without further incident on runway 08. The airplane's left aileron and wing tip separated from their respective attach points. The right wing's leading edge from the tip to 10 1/2 feet inboard sustained substantial damage. Video Tape Two commercial broadcast stations and an individual gave the Safety Board video tapes of the accident. The commercial broadcast stations presented these videos with various angles and zoom attributes. The video tapes show that the airplanes were flying an abreast formation toward the east. Two pace airplanes, emanating trailing smoke, were on the north side of the formation. When the pace airplanes pulled out of the formation, the airplanes began to descend; N7404C trailed the other airplanes during the descent. N8540Z was behind N7404C. N8540Z began to accelerate and descend below N7404C. When N8540Z was beneath N7404C, it entered a right banking attitude and, milliseconds later, the collision occurred. N8540Z pitched upward and its vertical stabilizer and both horizontal stabilizers separated; the rudder remained connected to the airplane by its control cables. When the flight was in a near-vertical climbing attitude, the left wing folded upward, followed by the separation of the left wing's outer panel. The airplane began to cartwheel and spin until it crashed. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Reno Flight Standards District Office conducted the on-site investigation. The inspector said all the separated parts of the airplane were recovered within 300 feet of the main wreckage area. Photographs provided by the inspector show that N7404C's left aileron separated from its attachments at the collision. The undersides of both wings displayed propeller slash marks and spanwise rubbing signatures. The upper leading edge of the right wing displayed debris impact marks. The Washoe County Coroner's Office did an autopsy on the pilot of N8540Z. The pathologist did not report any findings that the pilot had any condition or disease that would have detracted from his ability to fly an airplane. The FAA, Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted toxicological examinations on the pilot of N8540Z. The examinations were negative for alcohol or drugs. Toxicological examinations on the pilot of N7404C were not conducted nor were they requested. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N8540Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8540Z-2017-10-05), registration cancelled 2017-10-05, S/N 88-13585-1, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-5 - Registry model: [North American-Medore SNJ-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-medore-snj-5) (registry code 6400421) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 88-13585-1 - Airframe hours: 2541 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Same As Registered Owner - Registered owner: Ww II Warbirds, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 1993, 31 hours before - Departed: 4SD - Destination: 4SD, NV - Airport: 4SD, Reno/Stead ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N7404C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7404C), registered now, S/N 88-14124, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-4 - Registry model: [North American SNJ-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-4) (registry code 6400414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 88-14124 - Airframe hours: 3470 - Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Same As Registered Owner - Registered owner: Mcdonald, Jerry D. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Special, Provisional (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 1994, 5 hours before - Departed: 4SD - Destination: 4SD, NV - Airport: 4SD, Reno/Stead ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N8540Z; age 67; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 30,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model - Pilot, aircraft N7404C; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 20,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: 4SD, 2 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940918047241A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940918047241A), Sep 18, 1994: Namer SNJ5, Reno, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. During air race overtook and struck N7404C with his left wing from below came apart in air. Spun into a residence. - [Accident 19940918047242A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940918047242A), Sep 18, 1994: Namer SNJ4, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. During air race positioning was struck from below by N8540Z. Left wing tip and aileron torn off. Landed safely. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.