20040901022059A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172S · Willits, CA · September 1, 2004

Date: September 1, 2004 · 21:15 local
Place: Willits, CA
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N897TW
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04CA309
Reported as: Cessna 172S
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,649 total167 in this make and model24 in the last 90 days

N897TWRegistration cancelled Oct 15, 2004 · Cessna 172SS/N 172S8978 · Built 2001 Airframe modelCessna 172S Engine modelContinental IO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On a flight from watsonville, CA to Willits, CA the pilot could not find the airport. He descended to allow him a better look and flew into the trees. He does not remember attempting to stop the descent. The runway lights were not operating and a NOTAM was published. A red obstruction light on the airport terminal, the airport beacon and the sign at the gas pumps were all working. Pilot checked weather but not NOTAMS.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON A FLIGHT FROM WATSONVILLE, CA TO WILLITS, CA THE PILOT COULD NOT FIND THE AIRPORT. HE DESCENDED TO ALLOW HIM A BETTER LOOK AND FLEW INTO THE TREES. HE DOES NOT REMEMBER ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE DESCENT. THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE NOT OPERATING AND A NOTAM WAS PUBLISHED. A RED OBSTRUCTION LIGHT ON THE AIRPORT TERMINAL, THE AIRPORT BEACON AND THE SIGN AT THE GAS PUMPS WERE ALL WORKING. PILOT CHECKED WEATHER BUT NOT NOTAMS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04CA309Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportWillits, CAthe pilot's inadvertent descent and controlled flight into obstacles while maneuvering to land. Contributing factors were the dark, nighttime condition, which impaired the pilot's visual perceptions, and the pilot's failure to obtain a pertinent Notice to…Sep 2, 2004 · Destroyed