North American SNJ-5 and North American SNJ-4 mid-air collision near Reno, Nevada, September 18, 1994
On September 18, 1994 at about 5:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, North American SNJ-5 (N8540Z) and North American SNJ-4 (N7404C), were involved in a mid-air collision near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Stead airport). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1994 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Stead · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- North American SNJ-5 · all SNJ-5s on the register
- Registration
- N8540Z · no longer on the register · serial 88-13585-1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- North American SNJ-4 · all SNJ-4s on the register
- Registration
- N7404C · registry record · serial 88-14124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the North American SNJ-5 final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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-4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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-5 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 30,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,541 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 1993; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4SD at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 4SD NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from 4SD, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the North American SNJ-4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,470 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 1994; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4SD at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 4SD NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.
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.