North American SNJ and amateur-built Sportsman GS-2 accident near Chino, California, April 13, 2019
On April 13, 2019 at about 8:55 pm local time, 2 aircraft, North American SNJ (N3375G) and amateur-built Sportsman GS-2 (N316RM), were involved in the same accident near Chino, California (Chino airport). No one was hurt; 3 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 clearance from a stopped airplane while taxiing.
The other pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a stopped airplane while taxiing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2019 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- North American SNJ 5, built 1943
- Registration
- N3375G · registry record · serial 90790
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built Sportsman GS-2, built 2015
- Registration
- N316RM · no longer on the register · serial 7134
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the North American SNJ final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was doing S-turns while taxiing and that he did not see any airplanes in the run-up area. While positioning the airplane in the run-up area, his airplane's left wing collided with the propeller of a stopped airplane. The pilot of the stopped airplane reported that, after completing a run-up and waiting for a clearance to depart, he saw a "warbird" entering the run-up area. The other airplane continued straight, and the left wing collided with his airplane's propeller. The tailwheel-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Both pilots reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
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 Sportsman GS-2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was doing S-turns while taxiing and that he did not see any airplanes in the run-up area. While positioning the airplane in the run-up area, his airplane's left wing collided with the propeller of a stopped airplane. The pilot of the stopped airplane reported that, after completing a run-up and waiting for a clearance to depart, he saw a "warbird" entering the run-up area. The other airplane continued straight, and the left wing collided with his airplane's propeller. The tailwheel-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Both pilots reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
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 North American SNJ from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 25, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,975 hours in all; 557 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 5,852 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 10, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,077.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 27, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 An-1 (piston); 844 hours total
- Operator: Planes Of Fame Air Museum
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 8:55 pm
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26R, 4,858 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KCNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
The factual record for the amateur-built Sportsman GS-2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 449 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 365 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 4, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 274 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming YIO-390-EXP (piston); 313 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26R, 4,858 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.