Reid-Hillview Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Jose, California 95122
Sunday, May 6, 1990 9:34 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT FAILED TO RETRACT THE FLAPS BEFORE TAKING OFF. AFTER TAKEOFF, SHE NOTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT 'GAINING AIRSPEED OR ALTITUDE.' THE TOWER CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PILOT THAT THE 'FLAPS LOOKED WRONG.' THE PILOT SAID SHE REACHED TO CHECK THE FLAP SWITCH, BUT COULD NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THE ACCIDENT AFTER THAT. ACCORDING TO GROUND WITNESSES, THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF WITH THE FLAPS EXTENDED, THEN IT STALLED AND CRASHED AFTER REACHING ABOUT 100 TO 200' AGL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TRANSMISSION LINE, A SOLAR COLLECTOR ON THE ROOF OF A HOUSE, AND A FENCE. AN EXAM REVEALED THE FLAPS HAD BEEN RETRACTED BY THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT, IMPROPER RAISING OF THE FLAPS AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/6/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 934
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SAN JOSE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95122
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 133
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 935 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID RHV
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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 391
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 6 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41326
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1495V
NTSB Number LAX90LA166
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 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17263625
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 27 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 3487
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
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
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 933
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --