Reno/Stead Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Reno, Nevada 89506
Thursday, June 13, 2013 17:05 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Two airplanes, Race 99 and Race 777, collided in midair during a practice closed-course air racing session. At the time of the collision, four airplanes were navigating the course. Three of the airplanes were being flown in formation by rookie race pilots who were learning the race course and establishing landmarks to navigate the pylons. Race 99 was the last airplane in the three-ship rookie formation flight. The other airplane, Race 777, was being flown by a certified racer. The president of the jet class reported that the certified racer was instructed to avoid the three-ship rookie formation because it was maneuvering at slower speeds around the course for orientation. After the three-ship rookie formation flew around pylons 1 through 3 and began to maneuver the turn around pylon 4, Race 777 approached Race 99 from behind at a lower altitude and a considerably higher speed likely because the pilot had experience flying the race course. As both airplanes maneuvered around pylon 4, Race 777, which was lower and closer to the inner area of the race course, caught up to Race 99 and collided with it. Following the collision, both airplanes landed without further incident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to see and avoid the other airplane during an air race training session, which resulted in a midair collision.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/13/2013
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1705
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Reno
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89506
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 394005N
Event Location Longitude 1195235W
Event Location Airport Reno/Stead Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RTS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 5050
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1515 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID RTS
Elevation of weather observation facility 5050
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.13
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33394
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 29 2014 12:31PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N8124N N2399V
NTSB Number WPR13LA270A WPR13LA270B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? -- --
Damage Substantial Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AERO VODOCHODY AERO VODOCHODY
Aircraft Model L39C L39C
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 330211 031633
Certified Max Gross Weight 10362 10362
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2 1
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Aug 31 2012 12:00AM Jun 1 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20 50
Airframe Hours 2911 2500
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown Unknown
ELT Type Unknown Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name CSC ENTERPRISES INC CHRISTEN DARRYL K
Aircraft Owner Street Address -- --
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON HOUMA
Aircraft Owner State DE LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19810-4902 70360-4568
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name Larry Lee Terrence Fornof
Operator Same as Owner? No No
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No No
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City Atlanta Las Vegas
Operator State GA NV
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code 30339 89134
Operator Code -- --
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? -- --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation -- --
Operator Certificate Number -- --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not -- --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight -- --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail -- --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Air Race/Show Air Race/Show
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes Yes
Departure Airport Code RTS RTS
Departure City Reno Reno
Departure State NV NV
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1615 1615
Departure Time Zone PDT PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code RTS RTS
Destination City Reno Reno
Destination State NV NV
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 29 2014 12:33PM Oct 29 2014 12:33PM
User who most recently changed record stam stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14 26
Runway Length 9000 7608
Runway Width 150 150
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --