# NTSB IAD70A0011: Cessna 120, N90109, Spruce Pine, NC, August 1, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 1, 1969
- Place: Spruce Pine, NC · SPRUCE PINE, NC
- Location: 35.9140° N, 82.0697° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spruce Pine, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9140&lon=-82.0697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164766
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD70A0011
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD70A0011

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2581   69/8/1    SPRUCE PINE,NC      CESSNA 120          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 24, 225
        TIME - 1421                    N90109              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 116 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SPRUCE PINES
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          AUGUSTA,GA                  E LANSING MICH              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- THUNDERSTORMS OBSVD IN AREA.HORIZONTAL TAIL SURFACES SEPARATED IN FLIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90109](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90109-1971-02-24), registration cancelled 1971-02-24, S/N 9170, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Spruce Pines

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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