LAX01LA100

NTSB accident investigation · Bellanca 7ECA · San Jose, CA · February 15, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 15, 2001, 11:17 local (19:17 UTC)
Place
San Jose, CA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N53893Bellanca 7ECA
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 23, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
WP-FSDO
FAA report
20010215001609A
Case key
51737

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - airport facility

Analysis

The airplane veered off the runway during landing and collided with obstacles. The pilot planned to practice takeoffs and landings in the airport's traffic pattern. No problems with the airplane were noted during the taxi out, takeoff, or final approach. On final approach, the pilot observed the presence of a left crosswind, and he entered a slip to compensate for the airplane's drift. However, the pilot failed to maintain directional control during the landing roll in the conventional gear airplane. It veered off runway 31R and impacted the airport's anemometer. At 1117, the wind at the airport was from 230 degrees at 7 knots.

Factual narrative

On February 15, 2001, about 1117 hours Pacific standard time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N53893, veered off the runway and collided with an obstacle during landing rollout at the Reid-Hillview of Santa Clara County Airport, San Jose, California. The airplane was operated by Amelia Reid Aviation, San Jose, and it was substantially damaged. The private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local area flight that originated from the airport about 1100.

The pilot indicated that he intended to practice takeoffs and landings in the airport's traffic pattern. No problems with the airplane were noted during the taxi out, takeoff, or final approach. He did observe a left crosswind and entered a slip to compensate for the airplane's drift. However, during the landing rollout the conventional gear airplane veered off runway 31R. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to redirect the airplane back onto the runway. As it decelerated off the runway, it impacted the airport's wind-measuring instrument (anemometer). The pilot did not report experiencing any mechanical malfunction with the airplane's brakes or flight control system.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, at 1117, the wind at the airport was from 230 degrees at 7 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N53893
Reported as
Bellanca 7ECA
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1140-76
Airframe hours
12,403
Engine
Lycoming O-235-C1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Amelia Reid
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Aerobatic
Last inspection
Annual · December 1, 2000 · 28 hours before
Departed
RHV · San Jose, CA
Destination
RHV · San Jose, CA
Airport
RHV · Reid-Hillview of Santa ClaraCo, runway 31R, 3,101 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
42
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 29, 2000
Seat
Front
Flight hours
248 total · 36 in this make and model · 167 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
230° at 7 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
54 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
30.15 inHg
Observed at
RHV

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N53893 · 5

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

NTSB WPR14CA070Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSan Jose, CAThe flight instructor's failure to correct for the student pilot's loss of aircraft control in a timely manner during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the instructor's inability to see the taxiway sign from the rear seat.Dec 15, 2013 · Substantial damageNTSB LAX05CA282Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSan Jose, CAthe pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing flare, which resulted in a collision with an runway sign.Aug 30, 2005 · Substantial damageNTSB LAX95LA122Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSan Jose, CAthe student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the conventional gear aircraft during an aborted landing attempt. Factors in the accident were the student's high and fast approach and his failure to achieve the proper touchdown point.Feb 26, 1995 · Substantial damageNTSB LAX90LA018Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSonoma, CAThe failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the landing roll.Oct 29, 1989 · Substantial damageNTSB LAX86LVM02Accident · No injuriesFinal reportSan Jose, CAThe acft ground looped to the left after landing. The student plt said he attempted with rudder and aileron to regain directional control but failed. After rolling into the grass the acft nosed over. The plt said he should have held the stick back to assure…Feb 23, 1986 · Substantial damage