Local
San Jose neighborhood confronts renewed fears after plane crash at Capitol Expressway
A Cessna 177 carrying three people came down Saturday at Capitol Expressway and Excalibur Drive after the pilot reported engine trouble; no one suffered life-threatening injuries. Nearby residents say the crash underscores persistent concerns about aircraft operating from Reid-Hillview Airport.
A pilot reported engine failure and declared an emergency shortly before a small plane came down Saturday at the intersection of Capitol Expressway and Excalibur Drive in San Jose, according to air traffic control recordings.
Two adults and a child were aboard the Cessna 177. The San Jose Fire Department said none had life-threatening injuries. The aircraft crashed on one of the city’s busiest streets, near homes where residents described the incident as a frighteningly close call.
In the recording, the pilot can be heard saying, “We are having engine failure,” before declaring an emergency. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.
The plane was based at Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose and belonged to Flying20, an independent flying club. San Jose State University said the club includes some university alumni, employees and students but is not operated by the university. A Flying20 vice president declined to comment.
For some neighbors, the crash revived concerns about aircraft flying near their homes. Maria Reyes, who said she has lived near the airport for 54 years, called for Reid-Hillview to close, saying residents live with anxiety about another plane crashing into the community.
The fire department also responded to a separate plane crash at Reid-Hillview on Friday night; no one was hurt. The FAA is investigating the Saturday crash, and the National Transportation Safety Board had not immediately responded to a request for comment.