# NTSB LAX00LA266: Cessna 152, N67603, San Jose, CA, July 15, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2000, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.330467, -121.769096 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3305&lon=-121.7691&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49714 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA266 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49714/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA266 ## Probable cause The pilot's in-flight decision to continue the takeoff and his subsequent delayed decision to abort the takeoff after he noted that the airplane was unable to climb out of ground effect. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - ditch - object - fence ## Analysis No discrepancies were noted with the preflight and weight and balance computations. On the takeoff roll the pilot elected to build up airspeed for the climb out due to a heavy passenger. When the airplane lifted off the ground he pulled back on the yoke, but the airplane settled back onto the runway. He continued the takeoff roll, built up more airspeed, and noted that when the airplane lifted off the runway it stayed in ground effect and did not climb. He noted that there was not enough remaining runway to land and come to a stop safely, and could not land straight ahead due to houses at the departure end. He attempted to return to an opposite runway and heard the stall warning horn as the airplane collided with the airport perimeter fence. The pilot reported no discrepancies with engine power output; the airplane was just unable to gain altitude. A witness heard a power reduction during the initial climb and noted the airplane was not gaining altitude. After crossing over the departure end of the runway at a low altitude, he saw the airplane make a left turn to land on the runway and saw the left wing contact the ground. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 2000, at 1530 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N67603, collided with the airport perimeter fence and nosed over during an aborted takeoff from runway 31L at the Reid-Hillview Airport, San Jose, California. The airplane, operated by Interwings Corp., and rented by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal cross-country flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. The flight was scheduled to stop in Sacramento and Napa, California, with a return to the Reid-Hillview airport. No flight plan was filed. In the pilot's written statement to the Safety Board, he stated that the purpose of the cross-country flight was to build up flight time for his commercial certificate. Prior to the flight he performed a weight and balance for the airplane, and noted that the center of gravity was within the manufacturer's specified limits. The pilot stated, "everything was normal" with the preflight and run-up. On the takeoff roll he waited until the airplane had reached 60 knots before he rotated because he had a heavy passenger onboard and wanted to make sure he had enough airspeed for the climb out. After the airplane lifted off the runway, the pilot pulled back on the yoke, but the airplane settled back on the runway. The pilot continued the takeoff and kept the airplane on the ground until the airspeed reached 65 knots. The airplane lifted off the runway and stayed in ground effect and did not climb. The pilot decided at that point to land; however, there was no remaining runway left. He made an attempt to return to land on runway 13R due to houses located off the departure end of the runway. He stated that the airplane did not have the altitude and struck the airport perimeter fence. He stated that he heard the stall warning horn as the airplane collided with the fence. The pilot stated there were no discrepancies with the engine power output; the airplane was just not gaining altitude. A witness to the accident stated that he heard a power reduction during takeoff and observed the airplane in takeoff configuration, but not gaining altitude. After the airplane crossed over the departure end of the runway it was still at a low altitude. He saw the pilot attempt to land straight ahead and then make a left turn to land on runway 13R. The witness stated that the airplane was in a steep bank and low altitude and thought he saw the left wing of the airplane strike the ground. The airplane leveled off and landed in a field. It impacted a ditch and nosed over onto the airport perimeter fence that separates the airport from the Donald J. Meyer Elementary School. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67603](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67603-2015-03-12), registration cancelled 2015-03-12, S/N 15281940, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15281940 - Airframe hours: 9442 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Interwings Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 9, 2000, 21 hours before - Departed: RHV - Destination: SMF, SACRAMENTO, CA - Airport: RHV, Reid Hillview, runway 31R, 3,101 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 166 total, 30 in this make and model, 123 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 8 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 171 °F, dew point 135 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RHF ## 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 20000715012629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000715012629A), Jul 15, 2000: Cessna 152, San Jose, CA, No damage. (-23) Mr. Bouaziz is not a us citizen. Mr. Bouaziz is from elmenzen, tunisia. He stated: on take off using runway 31R, at rhv, he rotated at 60 KTS but could… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.