# NTSB LAX81DVM25: Bolen 172, N3902F, San Jose, CA, July 15, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 15, 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: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 25, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124943
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DVM25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DVM25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1564  81/7/15    SAN JOSE,CA         BOLEN 172           CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 43, 80 TOTAL
        TIME - 1106                    N3902F              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, 38 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - REID-HILLVIEW
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN JOSE,CA                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF BRAKES AND/OR FLIGHT CONTROLS
        REMARKS- CESSNA 172 W BOLEN TAIL WHL CONVERSION & AVCON 180HP ENG CONVERSION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3902F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3902F), registered now, S/N 36802, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOLEN 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Aerosport IO-375-B1B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerosport-io-375-b1b) (registry code 01310, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Reid-Hillview

## 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 19810715041159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810715041159A), Jul 15, 1981: Cessna 172, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced on solo landing. Lost control, ground-looped.

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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