Cessna 172A accident near San Jose, California, February 28, 1984
On February 28, 1984 at about 11:43 pm local time, a Cessna 172A, registered N7168T, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Jose, California (San Jose Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1984 · about 11:43 pm local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · San Jose Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172A · all 172As on the register
- Registration
- N7168T · no longer on the register · serial 46768
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF THE CESSNA 172 REQUESTED CLEARANCE TO RWY 30R & WAS CLEARED AS REQUESTED. WHILE TAXIING, HE WAS CAUTIONED ABOUT TURBULENCE BEHIND A DC-9. THE DC-9 PLTS WERE WAITING TO TAKEOFF ON RWY 30L. THE CESSNA PLT STARTED TO PASS AS THE DC-9 WAS CLEARED ONTO RWY 30L TO HOLD. THE CESSNA ENCOUNTERED JET BLAST FROM THE DC-9 & NOSED OVER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,858 hours in all; 1,407 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 2,749 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 088 Rio Vista CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30R, 4,418 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:49 am from SJC
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.