# NTSB DEN88FA033: Piper PA-28R-200, N9309N, San Jose, CA, December 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 5, 1987, 09:55 local (17:55 UTC)
- Place: San Jose, CA
- Coordinates: 37.369773, -121.860069 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3698&lon=-121.8601&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17343
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17343/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA033

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, go-around (vfr)
  - lubricating system - leak (cause)
  - fluid,oil - pressure too low (cause)
  - precautionary landing - initiated
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command
  - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - utility pole (contributing factor)
  - object - residence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

SEVERAL MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT NOTED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE & ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. AS HE WAS RETURNING, THE ENG BEGAN TO OVERSPEED, BUT HE CONTROLLED THE RPM BY RETARDING THE THROTTLE. THE WIND WAS FROM 150 DEG AT 10 KTS. THE PLT WAS CLRD TO ENTER TRAFFIC FOR RWY 13L, BUT HE ELECTED TO LAND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH A TAIL WIND. WHILE ON A SHORT FINAL APCH TO LAND ON RWY 31R, THE ACFT BALLOONED & THE PLT DECIDED TO GO AROUND. DRG THE GO-AROUND, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY POLE, THEN CRASHED INTO A MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING & BURNED. OIL RESIDUE WAS FND ON THE LEFT SIDE & BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG REVEALED THE #4 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED. ONLY ABOUT 1/2 PINT OF OIL WAS FND IN THE ENG. DUE TO IMPACT & FIRE DAMAGE, THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF OIL WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9309N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9309N-1989-11-15), registration cancelled 1989-11-15, S/N 28R35009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R35009
- Airframe hours: 3285
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Christopher J. Verbil
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 1987, 56 hours before
- Departed: RHV
- Destination: 308, COALINGA, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: RHV, Reid-Hillview, runway 31R, 3,101 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 802 total, 105 in this make and model, 584 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RHV, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19871205069159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871205069159A), Dec 5, 1987: Piper PA28R200, San Jose, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lost oil pressure on takeoff. Tried landing downwind no flaps. Too high,stalled climbout. Oil dipstick not secured.

## Other investigations on N9309N (2)

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 LAX78DUJ29](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78DUJ29), Mar 13, 1978: Piper PA-28 (N9309N), Apache Junct, AZ, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX76DUJ66](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76DUJ66), Apr 4, 1976: Piper PA-28R (N9309N), Grand Canyon, AZ, substantial damage

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.

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