# Accident 20190205009769A: Cessna 172M, Morongo Valley, CA, February 5, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 5, 2019, 10:00 local time
- Place: Morongo Valley, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0261° N, 116.5878° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0261&lon=-116.5878&mi=10
- Aircraft: N20556, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20556-2019-12-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot, student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR19FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA080) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190205009769A

## Narrative

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

N20556 WAS TRAVELING TO NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT (VGT) WITH TWO PASSENGERS WHEN IT IMPACTED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN NEAR DESSERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS.

## 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 WPR19FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA080), Feb 6, 2019: Cessna 172 (N20556), Desert Hot Springs, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate and/or improper preparation for the flight in which he selected an altitude too low to assure terrain clearance and resulted in an impact with terrain in turbulent downdraft…

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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