- Date
- September 11, 1999, 18:02 local (Sep 12, 1999, 01:02 UTC)
- Place
- San Jose, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N534CACessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 13, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990911043029A
- Case key
- 47358
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 failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout during taxi. Sun glare was a factor in the accident.
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's left wingtip struck a pole as the pilot was taxiing for takeoff. The pilot reported that his vision was impaired as he taxied westbound into the setting late afternoon sun. He saw an aircraft parked on his right and did not notice the pole on his left. He also reported the taxiway centerline was badly faded.
Factual narrative
On September 11, 1999, at 1802 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N534CA, was substantially damaged when the left wingtip struck a pole during taxi for takeoff at Reid-Hillview of Santa Clara County Airport, San Jose, California. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight. The airplane was operated by Concord Flight International, Inc., and rented by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was destined for Concord, California, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that his vision was impaired as he taxied westbound into the setting late afternoon sun. He saw an aircraft parked on his right and did not notice the pole on his left. He also reported the taxiway centerline was badly faded.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N534CA
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17269379
- Airframe hours
- 2,710
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Concord Flight Intl, Inc
- Registered owner
- Aviation Training Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 5, 1999 · 82 hours before
- Departed
- RHV
- Destination
- CCR · Concord, CA
- Airport
- RHV · Reid-Hillview Of S. Clara
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
- 54
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 299 total · 7 in this make and model · 142 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SJC, 8 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.