# NTSB LAX81AA119: Piper PA-28R, N15611, San Jose, CA, August 17, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 17, 1981
- Place: San Jose, CA · SAN JOSE, CA
- Location: 37.3394° N, 121.8950° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Jose, CA, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3394&lon=-121.8950&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 15, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123572
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81AA119
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81AA119

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3625  81/8/17    SAN JOSE,CA         CESSNA R172K        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 789
        TIME - 1249                    N736LE              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 12 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  1  1                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SAN JOSE MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          APPLE VALLEY,CA             SAN JOSE,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: FAILURE TO ADVISE OF OTHER TRAFFIC
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - TOWER                               RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - CONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - YES                                  CONVERGENCE ANGLE-DEGREES -  180
          HORIZONTAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -   0                 EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- CESSNA OVERTAKEN BY PIPER,N15611.TWR CONTROLLER STATED NEVER IDD PIPER,EITHER TRANS OR PRIMY TGT.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3625  81/8/17    SAN JOSE,CA         PIPER PA-28R        CR-  0  1  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 26, 427
        TIME - 1249                    N15611              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 7 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  1  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SAN JOSE MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN JOSE,CA                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: FAILURE TO ADVISE OF OTHER TRAFFIC
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - TOWER                               RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - CONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - YES                                  CONVERGENCE ANGLE-DEGREES -  0
          HORIZONTAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -   0                 EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- PLT RPTD DPTD ARPT 23M SE AT 1243.APROX 1245 RPTD VFR CK PT 8M SE FOR LNDG.NOT RADAR ID,NO ADVSY.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N15611 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: San Jose Muni

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N736LE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N736LE-1984-11-19), registration cancelled 1984-11-19, S/N R1722605 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: San Jose Muni

## FAA reports on this event (2)

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

- [Accident 19810817050071A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810817050071A), Aug 17, 1981: Piper PA28R200, San Jose, CA, Destroyed. On approach for landing overtook and collided with N736LE. Both aircraft were cleared straight in for 30R by ATC.
- [Accident 19810817050072A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810817050072A), Aug 17, 1981: Cessna R172K, San Jose, CA, Destroyed. Cleared to land on 30R was overtaken and struck by N15611 that was cleared stright in for same runway.

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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