# NTSB LAX95LA122: Bellanca 7ECA, N53893, San Jose, CA, February 26, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 26, 1995, 13:58 local (21:58 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.309379, -121.929565 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3094&lon=-121.9296&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 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29045 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29045/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA122 ## 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 his failure to achieve the proper touchdown point. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - aborted - airspeed(vref) - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aborted landing - attempted, pilot in command - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - aborted - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis THE STUDENT SAID HE WAS HIGH AND FAST ON THE APPROACH AND TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE STUDENT REALIZED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT AND ADDED POWER TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER AFTER ENCOUNTERING A MUDDY AREA ON THE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, HE WAS ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHTS IN THE BELLANCA 7ECA, ON JANUARY 19, 1995, AND HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 8 HOURS OF SOLO FLIGHT TIME. ## Factual narrative On February 26, 1995, at 1358 Pacific standard time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N53893, veered off the runway and nosed over after encountering soft soil at the Reid-Hillview Airport, San Jose, California. The aircraft was operated by Amelia Reid Aviation of San Jose, California, and was rented by the student pilot for a local area solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the Reid-Hillview Airport on the day of the accident at 1325 hours. In a verbal statement, the student said he was high and fast on the approach and touched down about 2/3 of the way down the runway. The student realized there was insufficient runway to stop the aircraft and added power to abort the landing. The aircraft veered off the left side of the runway and nosed over after encountering a muddy area on the airport. According to the student's flight instructor, he was endorsed for solo flights in the Bellanca 7ECA, on January 19, 1995, and had accumulated about 8 hours of solo flight time. ## 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 - Airframe hours: 10752 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-JC1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Amelia C. Reid - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 13, 1994, 40 hours before - Departed: RHV - Airport: RHV, Reid-Hillview, runway 31L, 3,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 77 total, 34 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19950226002629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950226002629A), Feb 26, 1995: Bbavia 7ECA, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. High and fast. Landed last third runway. Tried go around. Veered off runway nosed over in mud. Failed noted p factor ## 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 LAX05CA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA282), Aug 30, 2005: Bellanca 7ECA (N53893), San Jose, CA, substantial damage. 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. - [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 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.