# NTSB LAX72AL019: Cessna 172K, N78373, Bg Bear Cty, CA, September 6, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 6, 1971
- Place: Bg Bear Cty, CA · BG BEAR CTY, CA
- Location: 34.2611° N, 116.8450° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Big Bear City, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2611&lon=-116.8450&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 27, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163322
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX72AL019
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL019

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4281   71/9/6  NR.BG BEAR CTY,CALIF  CESSNA 172K         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 20, 51 TOTAL
        TIME - 0830                    N78373              PX-  1  2  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 3 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LA VERNE,CALIF             BG BEAR CTY,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED SPEED AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      60
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- CLBG FLT TOWARD MTN RIDGE.UN CLR RISING TRRN,ATMTD LDG,HIT TREES.TOTAL ENG HRS 1746.88,D/A 8200FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78373](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78373-1972-11-15), registration cancelled 1972-11-15, S/N 17257592 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (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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