# Accident 19971128040399A: Cessna 172N, San Jose, CA, November 28, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 28, 1997, 13:00 local time
- Place: San Jose, CA
- Airport: Reid-Hillview Of Santa Clara
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3294° N, 121.7708° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3294&lon=-121.7708&mi=10
- Aircraft: N739HE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N739HE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971128040399A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON NOVEMBER 28, 1997, AT 1300 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172N, N739HE, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT VEERED OFF RUNWAY 31R WHILE PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS AT THE REID-HILLVIEW AIRPORT, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.  THE AIRCRAFT LANDED, PORPOISED, AND CAME TO REST WITH THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED BETWEEN RUNWAYS.  THE STUDENT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED BY NICE AIR.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED FOR THE LOCAL SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.                                                    ON THE STUDENT PILOT'S SECOND LANDING OF HIS THIRD SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, HE HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR THE OPTION.  HE REMEMBERS FEELING FATIGUED AND DISORIENTED BEFORE TURNING TO THE BASE LEG; HOWEVER, ONCE HE TURNED ON FINAL HE FELT NORMAL AGAIN.  HE STATED THAT HE CONFIGURED THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING, BUT THAT HIS AIRSPEED WAS HIGH AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING AT A RAPID RATE.  THE STUDENT SAID THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN.  HE ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER FROM THE HARD LANDING, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO PORPOISE DOWN THE RUNWAY UNTIL THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA055), Nov 28, 1997: Cessna 172N (N739HE), San Jose, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate airspeed and proper rate of descent, and his misjudged landing flare, which led to an uncontrolled porpoise and eventual collapse of the landing…

## Other reports on N739HE (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20041130030159I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041130030159I), Nov 30, 2004: Cessna 172N (N739HE), Paso Robles, CA, Minor damage. (-23) Student pilot stated that when she pressed on the brake pedals, the right brake failed to stop the aircraft as she approached the fuel pump. The aircraft…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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