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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1983
- Place
- Fresno, California · Fresno Air Terminal · 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
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX84LA009.