Piper PA-28-150 accident near San Jose, California, November 12, 1986
On November 12, 1986 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-150, registered N5153W, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Jose, California (Reid-Hillview airport). It was an instructional 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
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
- November 12, 1986 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · Reid-Hillview · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-150 · all PA-28-150s on the register
- Registration
- N5153W · no longer on the register · serial 28-185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AFTER A 'HAND-PROPPED' START. THE STUDENT PLT HAD EXHAUSTED THE ACFT BATTERY POWER DURING PREVIOUS STARTING ATTEMPTS. HE THEN TIED THE ACFT DOWN AT BOTH WINGS AND THE TAIL. HE PRIMED THE ENG WITH THE MIXTURE CONTROL FULL RICH, THROTTLE FULL OPEN AND THE MAGNETOS OFF. HE THEN OPENED THE THROTTLE APRX 1/4 INCH AND TURNED THE MAGNETOS ON. THE ENG STARTED IMMEDIATELY WHEN IT WAS HAND-PROPPED AND ACCELERATED TO A HIGH RPM. THE ACFT BROKE FREE OF THE TIE DOWN ROPES AND COLLIDED WITH AND PASSED THROUGH A CYCLONE FENCE. THE ACFT CAME TO REST WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TWO TREES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.
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: student
- Flight time: 92 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RHV San Jose CA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: PAO Palo Alto CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm 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.