Piper PA-24-250 accident near San Jose, California, October 11, 1994
On October 11, 1994 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N8413P, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Jose, California (Reid Hillview airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's mismanagement of the fuel system and his failure to select a tank containing fuel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 1994 · about 6:55 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-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N8413P · no longer on the register · serial 24-3667
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD NEAR THE REID-HILLVIEW AIRPORT. THE FORCED LANDING WAS PRECIPITATED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE ON A 2-MILE FINAL APPROACH FOR RUNWAY 31R AT REID-HILLVIEW. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTORS RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT SITE AND EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT. THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS WERE DRY OR NEARLY DRY. THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS ALSO VOID OF FUEL, WHILE THE LEFT TANK WAS ABOUT 1/4 FULL. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK. THE ENGINE WAS RUN UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF FAA INSPECTORS. DURING THE TEST, THE ENGINE STARTED EASILY AND OPERATED NORMALLY THROUGHOUT ITS NORMAL RANGE OF POWER.
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: 281 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 166 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,714 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1993; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A15D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Amelia Reid Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: RHV at 5:30 pm
- Destination: RHV CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31R, 3,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 pm from RHV, 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.