If two planes almost hit each other is it called a "near miss"?

Question

Wonder why we dont say near hit?

Answer 1

because it is closer than a miss There is a distance estimate when they shift to the closer level.

Of course a new bride is also a near miss

and you only get it in the air, God knows why

Answer 2

it comes from the fact the the aircraft were "near"

and that they "missed"

Answer 3

Strange huh? Always wondered why it wasn't called a near hit.

Answer 4

Don't know. We always just said that we had accidentally castrated a gnat.

Answer 5

perhaps two stupid pilots or half-stupid only.

Answer 6

A near miss is technically referred to as a NEMAC or near midair collision but since that gets a little wordy to say people just call it a near miss

Answer 7

I think near refers to the proximity of the aircraft to one another.  So they were close to one another, but they missed colliding with one another.

(When two planes almost collide, they call it a near miss.  It's a near hit.  A collision is a near miss.  They nearly missed, but not quite!)

Answer 8

Yes

Answer 9

Well, English is a strange language.  The FAA officially calls it a "near midair collision."

Answer 10

I agree with the top contributor; Near "mid-air collision."

Answer 11

No, it's call extreme pucker-factor squared.

Time to change the skivvies.