Beech V35 accident near San Jose, California, February 23, 2002
On February 23, 2002 at about 2:00 am local time, a Beech V35, registered N131Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Jose, California (Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a forced landing into a residential area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 2002 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35 · all V35s on the register
- Registration
- N131Y · registry record · serial D-8062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane made a forced landing in a field, following a total loss of engine power. While en route, the pilot reported moderate turbulence at 4,000 feet; however, he was able to maintain level flight, and directional control of the airplane. About 2,000 feet agl, the pilot setup for the approach to land and increased the power to offset the strong turbulent conditions. The engine did not respond to the throttle input. He then applied full throttle, mixture, and propeller in an effort to execute a go-around, but again, the engine failed to respond. After colliding with several objects, the airplane landed on a grassy field in a residential area. The pilot never made an attempt to restart the engine after it lost power. Post accident inspections revealed no power plant abnormalities. No other airframe or fuel system related discrepancies that could explain a loss of power were found.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 556 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 492 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 28, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 2001; 186 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Destination: SJC San Jose CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 29, 4,599 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; a few clouds at 100 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from SJC, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.