# NTSB LAX05CA282: Bellanca 7ECA, N53893, San Jose, CA, August 30, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 30, 2005, 11:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.332778, -121.819725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3328&lon=-121.8197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 62374 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA282 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62374/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA282 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing flare, which resulted in a collision with an runway sign. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - object - sign ## Analysis The airplane impacted a runway sign during an aborted landing after it drifted off the runway centerline during the landing flare. According to the pilot's written statement, he conducted his approach at an idle power setting while performing a slip. At the point of touchdown, the pilot experienced a "sudden and strong side drift to the right." The pilot applied full power to abort the landing and was attempting to correct back to the runway centerline when the airplane's lower fuselage impacted a runway sign. The impact with the sign resulted in the failure of an aileron control rod, and limited airplane control. The pilot diverted to an airport with a larger runway and landed uneventfully. The wind at the accident airport was reported as variable at 5 knots about 30 minutes prior to the landing. Thirty minutes following the event, the wind was reported as a 10-knot headwind with a 10-degree offset to the right from the runway centerline. The pilot reported no previous anomalies with the airplane or engine that would have prevented their normal operations. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 2005, at 1135 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA airplane, N53893, was substantially damaged when it impacted a runway sign during an aborted landing on runway 31R at the Reid-Hillview Airport, San Jose, California. The pilot then diverted and terminated the flight at San Jose International Airport, San Jose, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Amelia Reid Aviation operated the airplane under the auspices of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The local flight departed Reid-Hillview Airport at 1100. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. According to a written statement provided by the pilot, he was cleared to land on runway 31R with the wind reported as variable at 5 knots. The pilot conducted the approach at an idle power setting with some slip that he described as stable. The airplane touched down near the intersection of taxiway B when he experienced a "sudden and strong side drift to the right." The pilot applied full power to abort the landing and was correcting back to the runway centerline when the airplane fuselage contacted a runway sign near taxiway D. During climb out, the pilot noted that he had limited control with the elevator and ailerons. He was able to maintain controlled flight, but was limited in pitch and roll control. Due to his necessity to maintain full left aileron and nearly full forward elevator control to maintain straight-and-level flight, the pilot elected to divert to San Jose International Airport to utilize the larger runway for landing. The pilot conducted a fly-by of the San Jose International Airport and determined he had sufficient control to land on the runway. The flight terminated uneventfully on runway 30R. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the San Jose International Airport, the airplane sustained impact damage to the lower fuselage, which broke the aileron pushrod, damaged the skin, and fractured a structural cross member. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane or engine prior to impacting the runway sign. The pilot reported accumulating a total of 1,100 hours of flight time, of which 60 hours were accumulated in the same make and model as the accident airplane. At 1047, the weather observation facility at Reid-Hillview reported the wind as variable at 5 knots. At 1147, the weather observation facility reported the wind from 320 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53893](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53893), registered now, S/N 1140-76, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 7ECA - Registry model: [Bellanca 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (registry code 1220460) (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: 1140-76 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Amelia Reid Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: RHV, San Jose, CA - Airport: RHV, Reid-Hillview, runway 31R, 3,101 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,100 total, 60 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050830026389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050830026389A), Aug 30, 2005: Bbavia 7ECA, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) During an attempted touch and go landing at Reid Hillview airport runway 31R, citabria N53893 piloted by [privacy data omitted] drifted to the right into… ## Other investigations on N53893 (5) 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 WPR14CA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA070), Dec 15, 2013: Bellanca 7ECA (N53893), San Jose, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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… - [NTSB LAX01LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA100), Feb 15, 2001: Bellanca 7ECA (N53893), San Jose, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout. - [NTSB LAX95LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA122), Feb 26, 1995: Bellanca 7ECA (N53893), San Jose, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the 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… - [NTSB LAX90LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA018), Oct 29, 1989: Bellanca 7ECA (N53893), Sonoma, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. - [NTSB LAX86LVM02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LVM02), Feb 23, 1986: Bellanca 7ECA (N53893), San Jose, CA, 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. --- 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.