Nighttime Emergency Landing in San Jose After Engine Power Loss (N49925)

Incident Overview and Flight Details The pilot departed Van Nuys, California, at 1830 Pacific Standard Time for Oakland, California, with a planned passenger stop at Hayward, California. The pilot stated that at about 2150 Pacific Standard Time, before reaching Hayward, the engine lost power. ## Emergency Landing and Impact The pilot turned toward the nearest airport, which was in San Jose, California, but was unable to reach it. During an emergency landing at night, the aircraft collided with trees and a building, then came to rest in a parking lot. ## Post-Accident Examination During a post-accident examination of the aircraft, only about 1-1/4 gallons of fuel was found remaining. According to the Cessna operating manual, 1-1/2 gallons of fuel was considered to be unusable. There was no indication of fuel leakage from the aircraft after the accident, and no mechanical failure or malfunction was reported.