| Crash location | 37.299444°N, 121.803056°W |
| Nearest city | San Jose, CA
37.339386°N, 121.894955°W 5.8 miles away |
| Tail number | N7604P |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 24 Feb 2002 |
| Aircraft type | Piper PA-24-250 |
| Additional details: | None |
On February 24, 2002, about 1635 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N7604P, experienced a total loss of engine power on approach to the Reid-Hillview of Santa Clara County Airport, San Jose, California. The pilot made a forced landing on a street about 2 miles from the airport and collided with an automobile. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the automobile occupants nor the commercial pilot was injured. The airplane was operated by Amelia Reid Aviation, San Jose. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Santa Barbara, California, about 1500.
The pilot verbally reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the airplane's fuel tanks were full upon his departure from San Jose earlier in the day. He flew to Santa Barbara and did not refuel the airplane. Thereafter, the pilot attempted to fly back to San Jose. The pilot indicated that he evidently had just "miscalculated" the airplane engine's fuel burn off rate and had exhausted the available fuel. The pilot did not report that he had experienced any mechanical malfunction with the airplane.
The pilot's inadequate planning and improper fuel consumption calculation, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.