# NTSB ANC72AA026: Cessna 175, N7055M, Willits, CA, November 23, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 23, 1971
- Place: Willits, CA · WILLITS, CA
- Location: 39.4050° N, 123.3489° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Willits, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4050&lon=-123.3489&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164427
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC72AA026
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72AA026

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3640  71/11/23   WILLITS,CALIF       CESSNA 175          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 80 TOTAL
        TIME - 2100                    N7055M              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 40 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WILLITS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WILLITS,CALIF               BAKERSFIELD,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ARPT OBS SAW PLT DEPART IN DETERIORATING WEA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7055M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7055M-1972-05-10), registration cancelled 1972-05-10, S/N 55355 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 175
- Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Willits

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.

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