# NTSB LAX79FA017: Cessna 210L, N777CT, Irvine, CA, December 15, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 15, 1978
- Place: Irvine, CA · IRVINE, CA
- Location: 33.6695° N, 117.8231° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Irvine, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6695&lon=-117.8231&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 23, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138073
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FA017
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA017

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4329  78/12/15   IRVINE,CA           CESSNA 210L         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 209
        TIME - 1857                    N777CT              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 25 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ORANGE COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN DIEGO,CA                IRVINE,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: ELECTRONIC TOWERS                         IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        REMARKS- ACFT HIT MICROWAVE TOWER DURING DESCENT TOWARDS TRAFFIC PATTERN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N777CT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777CT-1982-05-10), registration cancelled 1982-05-10, S/N 21061300 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210L
- Registry model: [Cessna 210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210l) (registry code 2073448) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Orange County

## 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 19781215044939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781215044939A), Dec 15, 1978: Cessna 210H, Irvine, CA, Destroyed. Acft hit microwave tower during descent towards traffic pattern.

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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