Socata RALLYE 235E accident near San Martin, California, August 21, 2008
On August 21, 2008 at about 1:00 am local time, a Socata RALLYE 235E, registered N711BZ, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near San Martin, California (S County Airport Of Santa Clar). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's incapacitation due to severe unrecognized coronary artery disease that resulted in a loss of aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2008 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- San Martin, California · S County Airport Of Santa Clar · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata RALLYE 235E
- Registration
- N711BZ · no longer on the register · serial 12936
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A ground witness at the airport reported that the engine sounded normal, and the approach looked "rock solid," when all of a sudden the airplane veered to the right and hit a building. A pilot landing his helicopter at the time of the accident reported hearing the radio transmissions of the accident pilot. He reported that the pilot sounded normal with no distress in his voice. Several other witnesses traveling on the highway at the time reported the accident airplane making a sharp right turn and impacting a building where it burst into flames. According to the ground witness at the airport, the pilot was from the local area. While this was not the pilot's home airport, he would have been familiar with it. An examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the autopsy findings for the pilot showed severe unrecognized coronary artery disease, which would have put him at risk for sudden incapacitation.
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
What happened, in order
- Abrupt maneuver during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Cardiovascular › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,580 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,315 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Silicon Rallye Inc
The flight
- Departed from: E16 San Martin CA
- Destination: E16 San Martin CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
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.