Amateur-built Mong and amateur-built Special accident near Reno, Nevada, September 18, 2016
On September 18, 2016 at about 3:35 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built Mong (N777FJ) and amateur-built Special (N767JW), were involved in the same accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Stead airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation and visual lookout during landing, which resulted in his airplane colliding with the airplane ahead of it on the runway.
The other pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation and visual lookout during landing, which resulted in his airplane colliding with the airplane ahead of it on the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2016 · about 3:35 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Stead · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built Mong Jerant Ra, built 2002
- Registration
- N777FJ · registry record · serial FJ-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built Special S-1, built 1971
- Registration
- N767JW · registry record · serial 7777
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built Mong final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots of two biplanes involved in a collision on a runway during landing, reported that they were landing after competing in a National Championship Biplane Gold Race. The pilot of the Mong reported that he had seen the Pitts biplane ahead of him in the pattern, followed him through his base and final approach legs, and witnessed the Pitts land on the runway. The pilot of the Mong further reported that his biplane had bounced during his initial touchdown on the runway and he added power to correct for the discrepancy and to land in a three-point attitude. The pilot of the Mong reported that he had lost sight of the Pitts biplane during the landing and did not see it again until the impact. The Mong's right wing struck the Pitt's left wing. The Mong spun 180 degrees and slid backwards for 100 yards, during which time the tailwheel snapped in half, and the Pitts was also spun around on the runway. The pilot of the Pitts biplane reported that he had landed and started a right turn off of the runway onto the taxiway when his airplane was struck from behind on its left wing. Both biplanes received substantial damage. Both of the biplane pilots reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the Mong also reported that he never heard a call on the radio to go around due to the spacing between the two landing biplanes. Currently the race organizers are looking into a revised recovery procedure to ensure that runways are declared clear before subsequent aircraft touchdown on the runway surface.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built Special final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots of two biplanes involved in a collision on a runway during landing, reported that they were landing after competing in a National Championship Biplane Gold Race. The pilot of the Mong reported that he had seen the Pitts biplane ahead of him in the pattern, followed him through his base and final approach legs, and witnessed the Pitts land on the runway. The pilot of the Mong further reported that his biplane had bounced during his initial touchdown on the runway and he added power to correct for the discrepancy and to land in a three-point attitude. The pilot of the Mong reported that he had lost sight of the Pitts biplane during the landing and did not see it again until the impact. The Mong's right wing struck the Pitt's left wing. The Mong spun 180 degrees and slid backwards for 100 yards, during which time the tailwheel snapped in half, and the Pitts was also spun around on the runway. The pilot of the Pitts biplane reported that he had landed and started a right turn off of the runway onto the taxiway when his airplane was struck from behind on its left wing. Both biplanes received substantial damage. Both of the biplane pilots reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the Mong also reported that he never heard a call on the radio to go around due to the spacing between the two landing biplanes. Currently the race organizers are looking into a revised recovery procedure to ensure that runways are declared clear before subsequent aircraft touchdown on the runway surface.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the amateur-built Mong from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Flt operations/dispatcher
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,392 hours in all; 47.9 in this make and model; 27.3 in the last 90 days; 4.5 in the last 30 days; 2,298.6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 3, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 155 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 9, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,086 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A16CD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RTS Reno NV at 3:25 pm
- Destination: RTS Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 7,608 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from KRTS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built Special from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Flt operations/dispatcher
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,438 hours in all; 292 in this make and model; 276 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 2,901 as pilot in command; 2,045 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 17, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,096.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 15, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&OV-360 SER (piston); 1,126 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RTS Reno NV at 3:20 pm
- Destination: RTS Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 7,608 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.