# NTSB LAX74AL023: Cessna 172L, N7964G, Descanso, CA, September 23, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 23, 1973
- Place: Descanso, CA · DESCANSO, CA
- Location: 32.8696° N, 116.6279° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Descanso, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8696&lon=-116.6279&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 28, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188008
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX74AL023
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74AL023

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3561  73/9/23    DESCANSO,CALIF      CESSNA 172L         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 21, 89 TOTAL
        TIME - 0937                    N7964G              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 20 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTEE,CALIF                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      56
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- MTNS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS.ACFT 105LBS OVRWT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7964G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7964G-1973-11-15), registration cancelled 1973-11-15, S/N 17259664 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19730923030969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730923030969A), Sep 23, 1973: Cessna 172D, Descanso, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Mtns obscured by clouds. Acft 105LBS ovrwt.

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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