Bellanca 7ECA accident near San Jose, California, February 26, 1995
On February 26, 1995 at about 9:58 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N53893, 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 student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the conventional gear aircraft during an aborted landing attempt. Factors in the accident were the student's high and fast approach and his failure to achieve the proper touchdown point.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 1995 · about 9:58 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
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N53893 · registry record · serial 1140-76
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT SAID HE WAS HIGH AND FAST ON THE APPROACH AND TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE STUDENT REALIZED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT AND ADDED POWER TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER AFTER ENCOUNTERING A MUDDY AREA ON THE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, HE WAS ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHTS IN THE BELLANCA 7ECA, ON JANUARY 19, 1995, AND HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 8 HOURS OF SOLO FLIGHT TIME.
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: 77 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,752 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 13, 1994; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-JC1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RHV at 9:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31L, 3,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:59 pm from RHV
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.
Other NTSB records under N53893 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.