# NTSB DEN79FA035: Cessna 170A, N5759C, Larkspur, CO, March 31, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 31, 1979
- Place: Larkspur, CO · LARKSPUR, CO
- Location: 39.2296° N, 104.8857° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Larkspur, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2296&lon=-104.8857&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 7, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136306
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FA035
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FA035

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3370  79/3/31    LARKSPUR,CO         CESSNA 170A         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 21, 191
        TIME - 1645                    N5759C              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 22 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          DENVER,CO                   RETURN                      COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          BLOWING SNOW                                             310
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 4-3-79.COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5759C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5759C-1979-05-22), registration cancelled 1979-05-22, S/N 19713 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A
- Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19790331042049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790331042049A), Mar 31, 1979: Cessna 170A, Larkspur, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew VFR into side of a mountain in heavy snowfall and white-out conditions.

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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