# NTSB LAX02LA091: Beech V35, N131Y, San Jose, CA, February 23, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 22, 2002, 18:00 local (Feb 23, 2002, 02:00 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.362499, -121.928886 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3625&lon=-121.9289&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54246 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54246/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54246 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA091 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a forced landing into a residential area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - residential area ## Analysis The airplane made a forced landing in a field, following a total loss of engine power. While en route, the pilot reported moderate turbulence at 4,000 feet; however, he was able to maintain level flight, and directional control of the airplane. About 2,000 feet agl, the pilot setup for the approach to land and increased the power to offset the strong turbulent conditions. The engine did not respond to the throttle input. He then applied full throttle, mixture, and propeller in an effort to execute a go-around, but again, the engine failed to respond. After colliding with several objects, the airplane landed on a grassy field in a residential area. The pilot never made an attempt to restart the engine after it lost power. Post accident inspections revealed no power plant abnormalities. No other airframe or fuel system related discrepancies that could explain a loss of power were found. ## Factual narrative On February 22, 2002, about 1800 Pacific standard time, a Beech V35, N131Y, lost engine power and made a forced landing in a field near San Jose, California. The airplane was owned and operated by San Jose Flying Club under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The personal cross-country flight originated at Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO), Santa Monica, California, about 1615, with a planned destination of the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), San Jose, California. In a written statement, the pilot reported that prior to departing SMO he filled both fuel tanks with full fuel. After an uneventful preflight, he departed with the left fuel tank selected. About 90 minutes into the flight he switched the fuel selector to the right tank. While en route, he received weather information for SJC via the automated terminal information service (ATIS), which reported wind shear. Air traffic control (ATC) cleared him to descend to 4,000 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot reported moderate turbulence about 4,000 feet agl; however, he was able to maintain level flight, and directional control of the airplane. The pilot continued the decent and reported turbulent conditions to ATC. About 2,000 feet agl, the pilot set up for the approach to runway 29 at SJC, which included the before-landing checklist. He increased the power to offset the turbulent conditions during the approach. The engine did not respond to the throttle input. He then applied full throttle, mixture, and propeller in an effort to execute a go-around, but again, the engine failed to respond. With the runway in sight, he pitched for level flight, but realized that he would be unable to make it to SJC with his given altitude and airspeed. He contacted the tower reporting that he did not have engine power and began looking for an unpopulated area to land. The airplane's sink rate increased, and he headed for a grassy football field in a residential area. The airplane collided with bleachers, a fence, and several trees. The pilot exited the airplane and reported seeing fuel spilling out of the damaged wings. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that turbulence was strong enough where he repeatedly hit his head on the roof of the airplane. He said objects in the cabin were flying around, and the only thing keeping him in his seat was the seatbelts. He also noted that he did not try to restart the engine after experiencing the loss of power. He felt that he was too close to the ground, and his focus was on landing the airplane in an unpopulated area. A recovery team transported the wreckage to Plain Parts, Pleasant Grove, California. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and an engine manufacturer's representative examined the wreckage and engine on March 27, 2002. The engine manufacturer's representative reported that there was no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction of the engine. The fuel pump was operational and fuel was in the main fuel strainer bowl, the metering unit, and the fuel lines at the fuel pump. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N131Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N131Y-2002-06-12), registration cancelled 2002-06-12, S/N D-8062, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech V35 - Registry model: [Beech V35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35) (registry code 1151538) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-8062 - Airframe hours: 4600 - Engines: Continental IO-520 BA 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: SJC Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 2001, 186 hours before - Departed: SMO, Santa Monica, CA - Destination: SJC, San Jose, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SJC, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl, runway 29, 4,599 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 28, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 556 total, 58 in this make and model, 492 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SJC, 7 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 20020222003189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020222003189A), Feb 22, 2002: Beech V35, Sanjose, CA, No damage. (.19) On February 22, 2002, at 1815 hours pacific standard time, a Beech V35, N131Y, collided with the ground during a forced landing at san jose, California.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54246. 428 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 347 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389541&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40207866&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Pilot%20-Master.PDF - Continental Motors Report (item 3, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389542&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Continental%20Motors%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.