Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172S near San Jose, CA — 2015-11-08

Final reportWPR16LA024
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Date
2015-11-08
Location
San Jose, CA, USA
Airport
RHV
Aircraft
CESSNA 172S
Registration
N21679
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll at night, which resulted in a runway excursion.

NTSB narrative

The newly-certificated private pilot conducted a local sightseeing flight at night with friends; he was not familiar with the airport. During the initial approach to land, the pilot performed a go-around. The pilot returned to land and, during the landing roll, lost directional control of the airplane, which subsequently exited the runway and came to rest inverted. A post-accident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane had been rented through a collaborative aircraft rental company wherein the pilot received a checkout in one location, and was permitted to fly the same make and model airplane at locations within the company's rental network throughout the country. Given his limited overall experience, landing at night at the unfamiliar airport and operating near the maximum gross weight of the airplane could have been challenging for the pilot.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing earlier due to control issues.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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