Piper PA-46 and Canadair CRJ2 incident near Fresno, California, August 29, 2008
On August 29, 2008 at about 4:07 am local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-46 (N9219T) and Canadair CRJ2, were involved in the same incident near Fresno, California (Fresno - Yosemite Intl airport). No one was hurt; 52 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 tower controller's failure to ensure the runway was clear before allowing Skywest 69R to land. Factors contributing to the incident were the Malibu pilot's and tower controller's unfamiliarity with the airport layout.
The tower controller's failure to ensure the runway was clear before allowing Skywest 69R to land. Factors contributing to the incident were the Malibu pilot's and tower controller's unfamiliarity with the airport layout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2008 · about 4:07 am local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · Fresno - Yosemite Intl · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 52 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-46 · all PA-46s on the register
- Registration
- N9219T · registry record
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Canadair CRJ2
- Registration
- not recorded
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-46 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 28, 2008, about 2107 Pacific daylight time, a runway incursion and near-collision occurred between N9219T, a Piper Malibu, and Skywest Airlines flight 69R (SKW69R), a Canadair CRJ-200. Both aircraft were landing on runway 29R at the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT), Fresno, California, and were under control of the FAT airport traffic control tower. Malibu 9219T was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 91 flight from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to FAT. SKW69R was a 14 CFR part 121 scheduled air carrier operating under instrument flight rules from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to FAT. There were 4 crew and 42 passengers aboard the Skywest flight, and 1 pilot and 5 passengers aboard the Malibu. There were no reports of damage or injuries aboard either aircraft.
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 Canadair CRJ2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 28, 2008, about 2107 Pacific daylight time, a runway incursion and near-collision occurred between N9219T, a Piper Malibu, and Skywest Airlines flight 69R (SKW69R), a Canadair CRJ-200. Both aircraft were landing on runway 29R at the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT), Fresno, California, and were under control of the FAT airport traffic control tower. Malibu 9219T was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 91 flight from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to FAT. SKW69R was a 14 CFR part 121 scheduled air carrier operating under instrument flight rules from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to FAT. There were 4 crew and 42 passengers aboard the Skywest flight, and 1 pilot and 5 passengers aboard the Malibu. There were no reports of damage or injuries aboard either aircraft.
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 Piper PA-46 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- 253320 during 253
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of geographic area › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of geographic area › ATC personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › ATC personnel
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Expectation/assumption › ATC personnel
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, APLN
- Flight time: 1,770 hours in all
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Destination: KFAT Fresno CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 290° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°C, dew point 52°C
- Altimeter: 29.700001 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KFAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
The factual record for the Canadair CRJ2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- 253320 during 253
- 552320 during descent - emergency
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Flight crew
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › ATC personnel
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › ATC personnel
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Skywest Airlines INC
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Destination: KFAT Fresno CA
- Flight plan: IFR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | |||
| Flig | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 43 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 OPS08IA013.