North American SNJ-2 and North American SNJ-2 accident near Fresno, California, October 9, 1983
On October 9, 1983, 2 aircraft, North American SNJ-2 (N61563) and North American SNJ-2 (N60645), were involved in the same accident near Fresno, California (Fresno Air Terminal 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1983 · cases in 1983
- Place
- Fresno, California · Fresno Air Terminal · cases near this airport · 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
- North American SNJ-2 · all SNJ-2s on the register
- Registration
- N61563 · registry record · serial 2025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- North American SNJ-2 · all SNJ-2s on the register
- Registration
- N60645 · registry record · serial 79-3993
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the North American SNJ-2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A FLT OF 5 NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-2 ACFT WERE ON A FLT FROM LONG BEACH TO FRESNO, CA. BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT, THE LEAD PLT IN N61563 WAS TO HANDLE THE RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH ATC FACILITIES. DURING ARRIVAL AT FRESNO, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER INQUIRED WHETHER THE GROUP DESIRED TO BE HANDLED AS A FLT. THE LEADER RESPONDED THAT THE ACFT 'WILL LAND INDIVIDUALLY.' THEREAFTER #1 RECEIVED CLEARANCE TO LAND ON RWY 29R. DURING THE LANDING, THE #1 PLT TURNED OFF ON HI SPEED TAXIWAY 'M', BUT WAS INSTRUCTED TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 29L. HE ACKNOWLEDGED & COMPLIED WITH THE INSTRUCTION. THE #2 PLT IN N60645 ALSO LANDED ON RWY 29R, ABOUT 2000 TO 3000 FT BEHIND #1. HE TOO TURNED OFF ON HI SPEED TAXIWAY 'M', BUT DID NOT HEAR THE HOLDING INSTRUCTION THAT WAS ISSUED TO N61563. SINCE THE PLT (#2) OF THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED ACFT HAD A BLIND AREA OVER HIS NOSE, HE DID NOT REALIZE HE WAS CONVERGING ON #1. SUBSEQUENTLY, #2 (N60645) COLLIDED WITH #1 (N6L563) FROM THE REAR.THE LOCAL CONTROLLER DID NOT INFORM THE PLT OF N60645 THAT HE WAS CONVERGING ON N61563.
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 North American SNJ-2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A FLT OF 5 NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-2 ACFT WERE ON A FLT FROM LONG BEACH TO FRESNO, CA. BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT, THE LEAD PLT IN N61563 WAS TO HANDLE THE RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH ATC FACILITIES. DURING ARRIVAL AT FRESNO, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER INQUIRED WHETHER THE GROUP DESIRED TO BE HANDLED AS A FLT. THE LEADER RESPONDED THAT THE ACFT 'WILL LAND INDIVIDUALLY.' THEREAFTER #1 RECEIVED CLEARANCE TO LAND ON RWY 29R. DURING THE LANDING, THE #1 PLT TURNED OFF ON HI SPEED TAXIWAY 'M', BUT WAS INSTRUCTED TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 29L. HE ACKNOWLEDGED & COMPLIED WITH THE INSTRUCTION. THE #2 PLT IN N60645 ALSO LANDED ON RWY 29R, ABOUT 2000 TO 3000 FT BEHIND #1. HE TOO TURNED OFF ON HI SPEED TAXIWAY 'M'. BUT DID NOT HEAR THE HOLDING INSTRUCTION THAT WAS ISSUED TO N61563. SINCE THE PLT (#2) OF THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED ACFT HAD A BLIND AREA OVER HIS NOSE, HE DID NOT REALIZE HE WAS CONVERGING ON #1. SUBSEQUENTLY, #2 (N60645) COLLIDED WITH #1 (N61563) FROM THE REAR.THE LOCAL CONTROLLER DID NOT INFORM THE PLT OF N60645 THAT HE WAS CONVERGING ON N61563.
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-2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 2,900 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 5,340 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29R, 9,222 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the North American SNJ-2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 27,700 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,560 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 5,340 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29R, 9,222 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N61563 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N61563 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- North American SNJ-2 10 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- North American 1,297 aircraft on the register
- N60645 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- North American SNJ-2 10 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- North American 1,297 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 64 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 64 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Fresno Yosemite International · nearest airport
- Long Beach (Daugherty Field) · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,134 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N61563 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX84LA009.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.