# NTSB WPR16LA024: Cessna 172S, N21679, San Jose, CA, November 8, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 7, 2015, 20:40 local (Nov 8, 2015, 04:40 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.332778, -121.819725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3328&lon=-121.8197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92304 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR16LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92304/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92304 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA024 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll at night, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21679](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21679-2015-12-29), registration cancelled 2015-12-29, S/N 172S9648, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9648 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 4553.4 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Trade Winds Aviation - Registered owner: Air Thomo LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 6, 2015, 3 hours before - Departed: RHV, San Jose, CA - Destination: RHV, San Jose, CA - Airport: RHV, Reid-Hillview Of Santa Clara C, runway 31R, 3,100 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 59 total, 59 in this make and model, 16 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 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 20151107024199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151107024199A), Nov 7, 2015: Cessna 172S, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed on rwy 31R then lost control drifting off the runway into the grass, to the left, striking an airport sign and flipping over coming to rest on… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92304. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448926&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Operator (item 2, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448927&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Operator-Master.PDF - FAA Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448928&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Open Airplane Agreement (item 4, .PDF, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448929&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Open%20Airplane%20Agreement-Master.PDF - Operator Open Airplane Agreement and Information (item 5, .PDF, 615 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448930&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operator%20Open%20Airplane%20Agreement%20and%20Information-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Airplane Inverted off of Runway (item 6, .PDF, 1 photo, 375 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448931&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Airplane%20Inverted%20off%20of%20Runway-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.