Accident Details
On November 7, 2015, at 2040 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172S, registration N21679, was substantially damaged during landing at Reid Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County, San Jose, California. The personal flight was operated by Trade Winds Aviation under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot was returning to the departure airport after completing a local scenic night flight with three friends. The pilot was cleared to land on runway 31R, but then requested a go-around. He was subsequently cleared again to land on runway 31R. During touchdown, the airplane departed the runway and came to rest inverted.
Pilot Information
The pilot, who held a private pilot certificate, reported that the airplane experienced brake and rudder problems during the landing. He had recently obtained his certificate and had accrued approximately 59 hours total time, with 7 hours of total night flight and 3 hours of night flight within the last 90 days. In the 30 days prior to the accident, he had flown 4 hours, none at night.
The pilot reported the airplane's weight at the time of the accident as 2,400 pounds. The maximum gross weight of the airplane is 2,550 pounds.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane was a Cessna 172S. The pilot rented it through an agreement with OpenAirplane, which allows a pilot to be checked out in a specific make and model at one location and fly the same make and model at OpenAirplane operators nationwide. The pilot had completed a checkout flight in the Boston, Massachusetts area, and the accident flight was his first since that checkout. There were no restrictions in the OpenAirplane agreement regarding night flight operations. The operator, Trade Winds Aviation, provided an online Local Procedures Briefing that discussed general operations and procedures for area flights.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination by an FAA inspector revealed no mechanical anomalies with the braking or control systems.