Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP, N55231: Accident occurred August 02, 2020 at Reid-Hillview Airport (KRHV), San Jose, Santa Clara County, California

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Jose, California

Golf November Aero LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N55231

Location: San Jose, CA 

Accident Number: WPR20LA256

Date & Time: August 2, 2020, 10:17 Local

Registration: N55231

Aircraft: Cessna 172 

Injuries: 2 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On August 2, 2020, about 1017 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172, N55231, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near San Jose, California. The pilot and the passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot was returning to Reid-Hillview (RHV) airport and was on right downwind for runway 31, approximately abeam the numbers, when the airplane collided with an object. The airplane yawed to the right dramatically and lost altitude. The pilot notified the tower and immediately executed a precautionary landing to runway 31. He landed safely without further incident.

It was later determined that the airplane likely collided with a bird. Debris and biological samples have been retained for testing.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna

Registration: N55231

Model/Series: 172

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built: No

Operator: On file 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KRHV,135 ft msl

Observation Time:

Distance from Accident Site: 

Temperature/Dew Point: 13°C /7°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,

Lowest Ceiling: None

Visibility: 7 miles

Altimeter Setting: 30.05 inches Hg

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

Departure Point: Carson City, NV (CXP)

Destination: San Jose, CA (RHV)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: 1 None

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 2 None 

Latitude, Longitude: 37.337776,-121.800277