Small plane crashes on San Jose highway; three injured

Three people were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a small propeller plane crashed onto a San Jose highway on Saturday, Oct. 7. The incident occurred at the intersection of Capitol Expressway and Excalibur Drive shortly after 3 p.m., according to the San Jose Fire Department.

Crash Details and Injuries

The aircraft, identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Cessna 177, landed on the street after the pilot reported engine issues. The San Jose Fire Department stated that no vehicles were involved in the crash and that a small amount of fuel spilled was absorbed. The three occupants—two adults and one child—were taken to a hospital "out of an abundance of caution," the department posted on X.

Dash-cam video reviewed by NBC Bay Area shows the plane clipping a pole before cartwheeling and coming to rest on its nose. Audio recordings captured the pilot radioing air traffic control: "We are having engine failure, having an emergency." A controller subsequently stated, "Aircraft seems to have landed north of the field, not on the field… on Capitol Expressway."

Investigation and Pilot Skill

Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days. According to records cited by NBC Bay Area, the plane took off from Reid-Hillview Airport at 3:06 p.m. and crashed three minutes later.

Retired commercial pilot Doug Rice reviewed the footage and praised the pilot's actions. "The fact they survived is a testament to the structure of the aircraft and the skill of the pilot to get back to a landing spot given the cards he was dealt," Rice said. He noted that the pilot had to steer away from residential areas, adding, "He had to get back to a safe spot and unfortunately hit a light standard."

Rice also highlighted the rarity of such incidents, stating, "We had 160,000 operations at Reid-Hillview Airport last year, and we only had one engine failure." He criticized the placement of obstacles along the thoroughfare, noting that the county airport commission had previously advised against placing large trees or light posts on Capitol Expressway because it serves as a natural emergency landing site.

Ownership and Context

The Cessna 177 was owned by Flying 20, an independent flying club. While the club's website indicated an affiliation with San Jose State University students and alumni, the university issued a statement distancing itself from the organization. "The aircraft involved is owned and operated by Flying 20, an independent flying club," the university said. "While Flying 20's membership includes some San Jose State University alumni, employees and students, the club is not operated by the university."

This incident marks the second plane crash in San Jose within two days. On Friday evening, a small plane crash-landed at Reid-Hillview Airport due to faulty landing gear, injuring no one, according to the fire department.

Why it matters

The crash highlights the critical importance of emergency landing zones and infrastructure planning near airports. While the outcome was fortunate, with no ground injuries and minor injuries to occupants, the incident underscores the risks associated with engine failures in small aircraft and the potential dangers of obstacles in designated emergency landing areas.

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Sources

• mercurynews.com: Small plane crash in San Jose
• nbcbayarea.com: Small airplane crash-lands on San Jose’s Capitol Expressway, 3 sustain minor injuries – NBC Bay Area

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.