WPR16LA024

The newly-certificated private pilot conducted a local sightseeing flight at night with friends; he was not familiar with the airport. During the initial approach to land, the pilot performed a go-around. The pilot returned to land and, during the landing roll, lost directional control of the airplane, which subsequently exited the runway and came to rest inverted. A post-accident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane had been rented through a collaborative aircraft rental company wherein the pilot received a checkout in one location, and was permitted to fly the same make and model airplane at locations within the company's rental network throughout the country. Given his limited overall experience, landing at night at the unfamiliar airport and operating near the maximum gross weight of the airplane could have been challenging for the pilot.

On November 7, 2015, at 2040 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172S, N21679, was substantially damaged during landing at Reid Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County, San Jose, California. The personal flight was operated by Trade Winds Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and three passengers were uninjured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was returning to the departure airport after completing a local scenic night flight with three friends. The pilot was cleared to land runway 31R, but then requested to go around. He was then cleared again to land on runway 31R. During touchdown, the airplane departed the runway, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that the airplane experienced brake and rudder problems during landing. A post accident examination by an FAA inspector revealed no mechanical anomalies with the braking or control systems. The pilot had recently obtained his private pilot certificate. At the time of the accident he had accrued approximately 59 hours total time with 7 hours of total night flight, and 3 hours of night flight within the last 90 days. He had accrued 4 hours of flight time in the last 30 days, and no hours of night flight during this time. The pilot reported the weight of the airplane to be 2,400 pounds at the time of the accident. The maximum gross weight of the airplane is 2,550 pounds. The pilot rented the accident airplane through an agreement with OpenAirplane. The OpenAirplane agreement allowed the pilot to be checked out in a specific make and model airplane at one location, and fly the same make and model airplane at OpenAirplane operators throughout the United States. The pilot had completed a check out flight with OpenAirplane in the Boston, Massachusetts area, and the accident flight was his first flight since the checkout. There were no restrictions in the OpenAirplane agreement regarding night flight operations. The airplane operator, Trade Winds Aviation, provided an online Local Procedures Briefing that discussed general operations and procedures for area flights.