# NTSB LAX71AL068: Cessna 172E, N5678T, El Cajon, CA, May 15, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 15, 1971
- Place: El Cajon, CA · EL CAJON, CA
- Location: 32.8017° N, 116.9605° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Cajon, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8017&lon=-116.9605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 24, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 161059
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX71AL068
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71AL068

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0944  71/5/15    EL CAJON,CALIF      CESSNA 172E         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 52, 500
        TIME - 1917                    N5678T              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 388 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DOUGLAS,ARIZ                SANTEE,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- NO ENG MALFUNCTION FOUND. SOME RESIDUAL FUEL LEFT. HIT PWR POLE AT NITE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5678T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5678T-1971-11-11), registration cancelled 1971-11-11, S/N 17251578 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E
- Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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