North American T-6G accident near Reno, NV
On September 17, 2023, a North American T-6G (airplane) was involved in an accident near Reno, NV. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 17, 2023
- Place
- Reno, NV
- Aircraft
- North American T-6G · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 39.668°N, 119.876°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230917193074
Official records · WPR23FA345
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Radio Transmission Audio File (Filtered): Audio recording (WAV), on ntsb.gov
- Tower Occupant Statements: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Radio Transmission Summary: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 17, 2023, about 1355 Pacific daylight time, a North American T-6G, N2897G (Race 6), and a North American AT-6B, N57418 (Race 14), were destroyed when they were involved in an accident near Reno, Nevada. The pilots of both airplanes were fatally injured. Both airplanes were operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Several witnesses reported observing both Race 14 and Race 6 collide while in the airport traffic pattern for runway 8. One witness reported that Race 14 was on the base leg (southerly heading) for runway 8, oriented along the airport perimeter fence line about 300 ft above ground level (agl), and Race 6 was on the downwind leg (a west-southwest heading) about 300 ft agl. The witness stated that at the time of the collision, Race 6 was at about a 75° angle in relation to the flight path of Race 14. The pilot of Race 66, who was in the third position to land, reported that after he had completed the race he began a slow left turn to downwind. Just before turning onto downwind, he heard the pilots of Race 14 and Race 6 transmit “downwind, abeam.” The pilot of Race 66 stated that he continued to slow his airplane to “create some space and time to see them” as he heard Race 14 transmit “base with gear.” As he got close to turning onto the base leg for the runway, he spotted Race 6, and he transmitted downwind abeam. The pilot of Race 66 stated that he “finally spotted” Race 14 below his position to the right and on the base leg, and saw Race 6 in level flight, to his left, noting both airplanes were not w
Probable cause
The failure of both the Race 14 and Race 6 pilots to see and avoid each other while in the airport traffic pattern. Contributing to the accident was both pilots’ failure to fly the standard downwind and base legs.
More accidents in NV
- Cessna 425, Jan 12, 1992
- Cessna TU206G, Dec 7, 1986
- Beech A36TC, Dec 25, 2003
- Cessna T21OL, Mar 1, 1982
- Pilatus PC-12/45, Feb 25, 2023
Browse: Nevada · North American aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
