Piper PA-44-180 and Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9 incident near San Jose, California, March 16, 1985
On March 16, 1985 at about 1:13 am local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-44-180 (N2138G) and Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9 (N476AC), were involved in the same incident near San Jose, California (San Jose Intl airport). No one was hurt; 158 people were on board or involved. 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 incident. 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
- March 16, 1985 · about 1:13 am local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · San Jose Intl · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 158 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-44-180 · all PA-44-180s on the register
- Registration
- N2138G · registry record · serial 7995191
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9 · all DC-9s on the register
- Registration
- N476AC · registry record · serial 48028
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-44-180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER SEMINULE WAS VECTORED TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE & CLEARED FOR AN ILS APCH AT 3000FT MSL. A DC-9, IN TRAIL AT 5000 FT MSL, WAS OVERTAKING THE SEMINULE. THE CONTROLLER ELECTED TO CHANGE THEIR SEQUENCE & CLEARED THE SEMINULE TO CLIMB TO 4000FT MSL DUE TO RISING TERRAIN & MAKE A RIGHT 360. THE DC-9 WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED AN APPROACH CLEARANCE & DESCENT FROM 5000FT, WHICH COMPROMISED SEPA4RATION REQUIREMENTS. THE CONFLICT ALERT WAS MISSED, IN PART BECAUSE IT WAS IDENTICAL WITH THE TERRAIN PROXIMITY ALERT, WHICH SOUNDED FREQUENTLY.
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 Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER SEMINULE WAS VECTORED TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE & CLEARED FOR AN ILS APCH AT 3000FT MSL. A DC-9, IN TRAIL AT 5000FT MSL, WAS OVERTAKING THE SEMINULE. THE CONTROLLER ELECTED TO CHANGE THEIR SEQUENCE & CLEARED THE SEMINULE TO CLIMB TO 4000FT MSL DUE TO RISING TERRAIN & MAKE A RIGHT 360.THE DC-9WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED AN APPROACH CLEARANCE & DESCENT FROM5000FT, WHICH COMPROMISED SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS. THE CONFLICT ALERT WAS MISSED, IN PART BECAUSE IT WAS IDENTICAL WITH THE TERRAIN PROXIMITY ALERT, WHICH SOUNDED FREQUENTLY.
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 Piper PA-44-180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 839 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 716 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-EIAD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bud Walen Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 11:25 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30, 4,419 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 114,000 lb
- Seats: 160
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D-9 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air California
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Santa Ana CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30, 8,899 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 9 | |||
| Passengers | 147 |
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.