NTSB Factual Report

On November 19, 2017, about 1500 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N52492, was substantially damaged when it impacted a residence following a partial loss of engine power in San Jose, California. The private pilot received minor injuries and the passengers were seriously injured. The airplane was operated by Squadron 2 as a personal flight, conducted under the provision of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the local flight, which had departed Reid Hillview Airport (RHV), San Jose, California shortly before the accident.

According to the pilot, she completed a preflight inspection and taxied to runway 31R for an engine run-up, which did not reveal any anomalies. The takeoff roll was normal and the airplane lifted off the ground at approximately 55 knots. As the airplane reached an indicated altitude of about 50 feet, the pilot observed the vertical speed and rpm decrease simultaneously, while the engine began to run rough. Once the airplane was beyond the airport perimeter, the pilot started a shallow left turn, while simultaneously searching for a landing site as she had difficulty maintaining altitude. She continued the turn until she observed a grass field in front of her as the airplane was descending. Moments before impact she decreased the airplane's pitch attitude, but the airplane continued to descend until it impacted a residence.

A surveillance camera captured a portion of the airplane's initial climb and its subsequent descent. The recording showed the airplane maintain a low altitude and enter a shallow left turn and slight nose high attitude shortly after its departure from the runway. Seconds later, the airplane's bank angle increased in the turn as the airplane descended. In its final movements, the airplane's pitch attitude decreased and the airplane's wings leveled out and then the airplane disappeared behind trees.

A postccident examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed substantial damage to the wings, empennage and fuselage.