N8333V

On July 26, 1997, at 1330 hours Pacific daylight time, a Champion 7GCBC, N8333V, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with an airport sign while landing on runway 31R at the Reid Hillview of Santa Clara County Airport, San Jose, California. The pilot reported that he had the airplane trimmed "all the way back," and he applied brakes. The airplane veered off the runway, collided with the sign, and came to rest in a dirt clearing adjacent to the runway. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was not injured. The flight originated from San Jose at 1300.

In the pilot's completed report he indicated that no mechanical problems were experienced during the accident flight. The pilot further reported that during the landing he "over corrected" and the airplane drifted left. After colliding with the sign the airplane nosed over. At the time, the surface wind was calm.