Socata RALLYE 235E accident near San Martin, CA
On August 21, 2008, a Socata RALLYE 235E (airplane) was involved in an accident near San Martin, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 21, 2008
- Place
- San Martin, CA
- Aircraft
- Socata RALLYE 235E · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.067°N, 121.583°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080917X01487
Official records · LAX08LA272
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 20, 2008, at 1800 Pacific daylight time, a single-engine SOCATA RALLYE 235E, airplane, N711BZ, collided with a California Highway Patrol (CHP) weigh station building near South County Airport of Santa Clara County (E16), San Martin, California. Silicon Rallye, Inc., operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was killed. The airplane was destroyed in the post-impact fire; there were no ground injuries. The airplane departed about 1755 for pattern work. Several witnesses on both the north and southbound lanes of nearby highway 101 reported no smoke or fluid emanating from the airplane, but that it was "undulating" up and down, and flying at a low altitude before the left wing came up and the airplane turned sharply to the right. An airborne helicopter pilot landing at South County airport reported hearing the accident pilot transmit a radio call on takeoff. A short time later he heard the accident pilot radio that he was on the base leg. The pilot witness was able to see the airplane at this point, and he continued his landing on the parallel taxiway. He heard the accident pilot call 'final,' and then expected to see the airplane on roll-out to his right. He looked to the right, but did not see the airplane. When he looked back, he saw the smoke coming from the weigh station. The pilot stated that he did not hear any "stress or distress" in the accident pilot's voice during his transmissions. A co-owner in the accident airplane reported that there had been no his
Probable cause
The pilot's incapacitation due to severe unrecognized coronary artery disease that resulted in a loss of aircraft control.
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Browse: California · Socata aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
