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NTSB Report
December 5, 1987 · Piper PA-28R-200 · N9309N
San Jose, CA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 5, 1987
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (3 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Location
San Jose, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-200
Tail Number
N9309N
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN88FA033
SEVERAL MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT NOTED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE & ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. AS HE WAS RETURNING, THE ENG BEGAN TO OVERSPEED, BUT HE CONTROLLED THE RPM BY RETARDING THE THROTTLE. THE WIND WAS FROM 150 DEG AT 10 KTS. THE PLT WAS CLRD TO ENTER TRAFFIC FOR RWY 13L, BUT HE ELECTED TO LAND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH A TAIL WIND. WHILE ON A SHORT FINAL APCH TO LAND ON RWY 31R, THE ACFT BALLOONED & THE PLT DECIDED TO GO AROUND. DRG THE GO-AROUND, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY POLE, THEN CRASHED INTO A MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING & BURNED. OIL RESIDUE WAS FND ON THE LEFT SIDE & BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG REVEALED THE #4 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED. ONLY ABOUT 1/2 PINT OF OIL WAS FND IN THE ENG. DUE TO IMPACT & FIRE DAMAGE, THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF OIL WAS NOT DETERMINED.
Full Narrative
SEVERAL MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT NOTED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE & ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. AS HE WAS RETURNING, THE ENG BEGAN TO OVERSPEED, BUT HE CONTROLLED THE RPM BY RETARDING THE THROTTLE. THE WIND WAS FROM 150 DEG AT 10 KTS. THE PLT WAS CLRD TO ENTER TRAFFIC FOR RWY 13L, BUT HE ELECTED TO LAND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH A TAIL WIND. WHILE ON A SHORT FINAL APCH TO LAND ON RWY 31R, THE ACFT BALLOONED & THE PLT DECIDED TO GO AROUND. DRG THE GO-AROUND, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY POLE, THEN CRASHED INTO A MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING & BURNED. OIL RESIDUE WAS FND ON THE LEFT SIDE & BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG REVEALED THE #4 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED. ONLY ABOUT 1/2 PINT OF OIL WAS FND IN THE ENG. DUE TO IMPACT & FIRE DAMAGE, THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF OIL WAS NOT DETERMINED.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:55 PST
Nearest AirportReid-Hillview (1nm NW)
Runway31R
Runway Length3101 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-28R-200
Tail NumberN9309N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C1C · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary4 injuries (3 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Fatal3
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 32 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind150° @ 10 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:57