Reid Hillview Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Jose, California 95122
Tuesady, October 11, 1994 11:55 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's mismanagement of the fuel system and his failure to select a tank containing fuel.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/11/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1155
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SAN JOSE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95122
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport REID HILLVIEW
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RHV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 160
Airport Elevation 133
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1146 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID RHV
Elevation of weather observation facility 133
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1483
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 11 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1340
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8413P
NTSB Number LAX95LA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-3667
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 76
Airframe Hours 5714
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMELIA C. REID
Aircraft Owner Street Address 489 HALSEY AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City SAN JOSE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95128
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AMELIA REID AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 489 HALSEY AVENUE
Operator City SAN JOSE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95128
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code RHV
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code RHV
Destination City
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31R
Runway Length 3100
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --