- Date
- October 11, 1994, 11:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place
- San Jose, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8413PPiper PA-24-250
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 5, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941011034289A
- Case key
- 28958
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's mismanagement of the fuel system and his failure to select a tank containing fuel.
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.
Analysis
The airplane collided with terrain while attempting a forced landing in a field near the reid-hillview airport. The forced landing was precipitated by a total loss of power while on a 2-mile final approach for runway 31R at reid-hillview. Federal aviation administration (FAA) inspectors responded to the accident site and examined the aircraft. The auxiliary fuel tanks were dry or nearly dry. The right main fuel tank was also void of fuel, while the left tank was about 1/4 full. The fuel selector valve was found positioned to the right main fuel tank. The engine was run under the supervision of FAA inspectors. During the test, the engine started easily and operated normally throughout its normal range of power.
Factual narrative
On October 11, 1994, at 1155 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA24- 250, N8413P, collided with terrain while attempting a forced landing in a field near the Reid-Hillview airport, San Jose, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a total loss of power while on a 2-mile final approach for runway 31R at Reid- Hillview. The aircraft was operated by Amelia Reid Aviation of San Jose, California, and was rented by the pilot for a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and included calm winds. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at the Reid-Hillview airport on the day of the accident at 1030 as a local area personal flight.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors responded to the accident site and examined the aircraft. The auxiliary fuel tanks were dry or nearly dry. The right main fuel tank was also void of fuel, while the left tank was about 1/4 full. The fuel selector valve was found positioned to the right main fuel tank.
On October 27, 1994, the engine was run under the supervision of FAA inspectors. During the test, the engine started easily and operated normally throughout its normal range of power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8413P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-3667
- Airframe hours
- 5,714
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-A15D, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Amelia Reid Aviation
- Registered owner
- Amelia C. Reid
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 1993 · 76 hours before
- Departed
- RHV
- Destination
- RHV · CA
- Airport
- RHV · Reid Hillview, runway 31R, 3,100 × 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
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 281 total · 13 in this make and model · 166 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RHV, 1 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.