# Accident 20051221030479A: Cessna 172, Morgan Hill, CA, December 21, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 21, 2005, 21:00 local time
- Place: Morgan Hill, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0678° N, 121.5189° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0678&lon=-121.5189&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7383A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7383A-2006-12-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172 (registry code 2072402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX06LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06LA064) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051221030479A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX06LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06LA064), Dec 22, 2005: Cessna 172 (N7383A), Gilroy, CA, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The 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…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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