Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/L and Cessna TR182 accident near San Jose, California, July 20, 2008
On July 20, 2008 at about 10:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/L (N981KM) and Cessna TR182 (N5146S), were involved in the same accident near San Jose, California (Reid-Hillview Of Santa Clara C airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate visual lookout of the pilot and his failure to maintain clearance from another airplane.
The pilot of the other airplane's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from another airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2008 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · Reid-Hillview Of Santa Clara C · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/L · all EA 300/Ls on the register
- Registration
- N981KM · registry record · serial 1271
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N5146S · registry record · serial R18201511
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/L final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing on runway 31R, the pilot of a Cessna 182 exited onto taxiway Delta, with instructions to hold short of taxiway Zulu and to contact ground control for further taxi instructions. The pilot contacted ground control, and received a clearance to taxi to parking via taxiway Zulu. During this time, the Extra 300 had landed on runway 31L, and exited onto taxiway Delta, with hold short instructions for the right runway. As he turned onto Delta, the pilot of the Extra 300 saw the Cessna 182 holding short of taxiway Zulu. About a minute later, he was cleared to cross the right runway, hold short of taxiway Zulu, and contact ground control. The pilot of the Extra 300 taxied about 50 yards onto taxiway Delta, across the runway and across taxiway Yankee, towards taxiway Zulu. He stated that the nose of the airplane blocked his forward view and that he did not perform S-turns to identify any obstacles ahead. He also reported that he had forgotten that he had seen the Cessna 182 on taxiway Zulu earlier. The Extra 300 pilot was taxiing with idle power, and about to contact ground control, when the propeller of his airplane collided with the tail, rudder, and elevator of the Cessna 182.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna TR182 final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing on runway 31R, the pilot of a Cessna 182 exited onto taxiway Delta, with instructions to hold short of taxiway Zulu and to contact ground control for further taxi instructions. The pilot contacted ground control, and received a clearance to taxi to parking via taxiway Zulu. During this time, the Extra 300 had landed on runway 31L, and exited onto taxiway Delta, with hold short instructions for the right runway. As he turned onto Delta, the pilot of the Extra 300 saw the Cessna 182 holding short of taxiway Zulu. About a minute later, he was cleared to cross the right runway, hold short of taxiway Zulu, and contact ground control. The pilot of the Extra 300 taxied about 50 yards onto taxiway Delta, across the runway and across taxiway Yankee, towards taxiway Zulu. He stated that the nose of the airplane blocked his forward view and that he did not perform S-turns to identify any obstacles ahead. He also reported that he had forgotten that he had seen the Cessna 182 on taxiway Zulu earlier. The Extra 300 pilot was taxiing with idle power, and about to contact ground control, when the propeller of his airplane collided with the tail, rudder, and elevator of the Cessna 182.
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 for the Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 380 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 290 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 110 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2008; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,980 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RHV San Jose CA at 9:50 pm
- Destination: RHV San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31L, 3,099 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from RHV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna TR182 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 360 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 275 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 2, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,782 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 2007; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RHV San Jose CA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: RHV San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31R, 3,099 ft by 75 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.