N77J

On March 8, 2001, at 0933 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 140, N77J, was substantially damaged during a landing ground loop at San Jose International Airport, San Jose, California. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local area instructional flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Ames Flying Club. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed San Jose about 0900.

The pilot reported that, on his sixth landing on runway 29 (4,599 feet long by 100 feet wide), following a normal approach, the airplane bounced slightly on touchdown. As it touched down a second time, the aircraft started to veer to the right and, although he applied left rudder, the plane continued to veer more sharply to the right and a groundloop to the right ensued. The left main landing gear strut collapsed and the aircraft came to rest on the right-hand edge of the runway about 800 feet from the threashold. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions and that weather was not a factor.