Reid Hillview Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Jose, California 95148
Saturday, July 15, 2000 15:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

No discrepancies were noted with the preflight and weight and balance computations. On the takeoff roll the pilot elected to build up airspeed for the climb out due to a heavy passenger. When the airplane lifted off the ground he pulled back on the yoke, but the airplane settled back onto the runway. He continued the takeoff roll, built up more airspeed, and noted that when the airplane lifted off the runway it stayed in ground effect and did not climb. He noted that there was not enough remaining runway to land and come to a stop safely, and could not land straight ahead due to houses at the departure end. He attempted to return to an opposite runway and heard the stall warning horn as the airplane collided with the airport perimeter fence. The pilot reported no discrepancies with engine power output; the airplane was just unable to gain altitude. A witness heard a power reduction during the initial climb and noted the airplane was not gaining altitude. After crossing over the departure end of the runway at a low altitude, he saw the airplane make a left turn to land on the runway and saw the left wing contact the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's in-flight decision to continue the takeoff and his subsequent delayed decision to abort the takeoff after he noted that the airplane was unable to climb out of ground effect.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/15/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SAN JOSE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95148
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
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 On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 133
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1546 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID RHF
Elevation of weather observation facility 133
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 77
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 57
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10891
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 15 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1815
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Nov 1 2001 7:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N67603
NTSB Number LAX00LA266
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15281940
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 9 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 9442
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name INTERWINGS CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2635 CUNNINGHAM AVE
Aircraft Owner City SAN JOSE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95148
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code RHV
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SMF
Destination City SACRAMENTO
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 17 2001 10:40AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31R
Runway Length 3101
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --