# NTSB DEN79FA016: Cessna 421C, N5469G, Spanish Forks, UT, January 9, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 9, 1979
- Place: Spanish Forks, UT · SPANISH FORKS, UT
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136949
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FA016
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FA016

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3101   79/1/9  NR.SPANISH FORKS, UT  CESSNA 421C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 50, 2629
        TIME - 1710                    N5469G              PX-  4  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, 52 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PROVO,UT                    SAN FRANCISCO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          BLOWING SNOW                                             IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- MTNS OBSCURED.RECOVERY DATE 1/13/79.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5469G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5469G-2013-04-18), registration cancelled 2013-04-18, S/N 421C0216, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- Registry model: [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (registry code 2076016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSI0-520-F-K](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsi0-520-f-k) (registry code 17031, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Provo Muni

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19790109034819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790109034819A), Jan 9, 1979: Cessna 421C, Spanish Fork, UT, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Pilot failed to follow published IFR departure procedure. Flew into a mountain.

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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