Posted on 10/18/2026 6:27:21 AM PDT by DFG
A small plane crashed on a highway in San Jose Saturday with three people on board.
The prop plane crashed in the area of Capitol Expressway and Excalibur Dr. shortly after 3 p.m., with two adults and a child inside, according to the San Jose Fire Department.
The occupants were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries “out of an abundance of caution,” the department said.
No vehicles were involved in the crash, which caused a minor fuel spill that was absorbed.
Photos from the scene showed the mangled plane’s nose crushed and bent against the roadway.
When asked for comment by The California Post, the fire department referred to its official announcement on X.
This comes as a plane crash also occurred on Friday night at Reid Hillview Airport in San Jose.
“A small plane crash landed due to faulty landing gear. The two individuals onboard were uninjured and able to get out of the plane on their own. The crash did not result in any fuel spill,” the San Jose Fire Department said on X.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2822282838158854
How did the pilot “crash land” due to faulty landing gear?
Listen to ATC here:
Flightdrama 10/17/2026 X post:
https://x.com/flightdrama/status/2111636463150326046
Pilot Declares Engine Failure Before Crashing Onto Road
A small plane carrying two adults and a child crashed onto a road in San Jose, California, on October 17, after its pilot reported an engine failure shortly after takeoff.
The 1968 Cessna 177A Cardinal, registered N30544, had departed Reid-Hillview Airport when the pilot declared an emergency. Air traffic control immediately cleared the aircraft to land on either runway, even cancelling another aircraft’s takeoff clearance.
But the Cessna never made it back.
Another pilot reported seeing the aircraft descending towards Capitol Expressway, where it crashed near Excalibur Drive.
Despite the significant damage to the aircraft, all three occupants survived with non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to hospital.
Firefighters confirmed that no vehicles were involved, while a small fuel spill was contained.
The official cause remains under investigation.
Wow, they’re fortunate to be alive.
That doesn’t look survivable. I think those folks are extremely lucky.
Non-fatal accident on California road makes news because it involved an airplane. Fair enough. The next 15 fatalities today on California roads won’t get much if any coverage.
Non-fatal accident on California road makes news because it involved an airplane. Fair enough. The next 15 fatalities today on California roads won’t get much if any coverage.
Nose gear folded?
They were doing good until they clipped the lightpole!
Shame!
Cardinals are great little planes.
They’ve been using the highways for runways a lot these days. Everybody flies like muzzie terrorists.
Looks like a real train wreck.
Very fortunate. All crumpled up but the cabin.
Right, but my point is that no sort of gear fault forced an off-airport landing.
NTSB says it’s a 177A which does not have retractable gear (the RG variant does). Probably written by a urinalist who doesn’t know anything about GA.
They didn’t know the way to San Jose.
Another example of Dunning Kruger effect?
Agreed, it is ridiculous to think that a problem with a landing gear would make you land on a highway.
The rescuers didn't just manage to pull out one, but three.
As for the crash, I wouldn't be surprised if some s-words had been involved.
Just because it isn’t hinged doesn’t mean it can’t fold.
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