Cessna 195A accident near San Jose, California, February 29, 1992
On February 29, 1992 at about 9:54 pm local time, a Cessna 195A, registered N3451V, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Jose, California (San Jose Intl 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LEFT QUARTERING TAIL/CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 29, 1992 · about 9:54 pm local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · San Jose Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195A · all 195As on the register
- Registration
- N3451V · registry record · serial 7148
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 195A LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, AND NOSED OVER WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 30R WITH A LEFT QUARTERING TAIL/CROSSWIND. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 190 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS AND THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS AND RECOVER FROM THE RESULTING BOUNCED LANDING. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT ON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN. THE PROPELLER THEN STRUCK THE RUNWAY SURFACE AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. POST FLIGHT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEAL THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR WHEEL FAIRING HAD CONTACTED THE TIRE. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE HAD SCRAPE MARKS ON BOTH SIDEWALLS AND A GOUGE IN THE TREAD FROM CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL FAIRING MUD SCRAPER.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,826 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 26, 1991; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755-B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVK Livermore CA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30R, 4,419 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from SJC, 1 miles away
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.