20051221030479A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172 · Morgan Hill, CA · December 21, 2005

Date: December 21, 2005 · 21:00 local
Place: Morgan Hill, CA
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N7383A
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX06LA064
Reported as: Cessna 172
People aboard: 4
Fatal injuries: 4

N7383ARegistration cancelled Dec 21, 2006 · Cessna 172S/N 29483 · Built 1956 Airframe modelCessna 172 Engine modelContinental 0-300 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) The non-instrument rated private pilot and three passengers departed san martin airport (E16) under night instrument meteorological conditions on a cross-country flight destined for fresno, California. After takeoff, pilot contacted norcal TRACON and reported that he was having trouble maintaining outside visual contact and control of the aircraft. Shortly thereafter, pilot impacted a Hill side fatally injuring all on board the aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS DEPARTED SAN MARTIN AIRPORT (E16) UNDER NIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT DESTINED FOR FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. AFTER TAKEOFF, PILOT CONTACTED NORCAL TRACON AND REPORTED THAT HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE MAINTAINING OUTSIDE VISUAL CONTACT AND CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, PILOT IMPACTED A HILL SIDE FATALLY INJURING ALL ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT.

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 LAX06LA064Accident · 4 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportGilroy, CAThe non-instrument rated pilot's poor judgment to fly in dark night instrument conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and loss of aircraft control while maneuvering. Contributing factors were the dark night light condition and the low…Dec 22, 2005 · Destroyed