# NTSB LAX79FA025: Cessna 175, N7494M, Wickenburg, AZ, January 18, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 18, 1979
- Place: Wickenburg, AZ · WICKENBURG, AZ
- Location: 33.9858° N, 112.7683° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wickenburg, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9858&lon=-112.7683&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 14, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137870
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FA025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA025

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0283  79/1/18  NR.WICKENBURG,AZ      CESSNA 175          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 41, 200
        TIME - 0610                    N7494M              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WICKENBURG,AZ               WINTERSBURG,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    2500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          GROUND FOG                                                52
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          100                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7494M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7494M-1981-10-14), registration cancelled 1981-10-14, S/N 55794 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 175
- Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (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 19790118005629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790118005629A), Jan 18, 1979: Cessna 175, Wickenburg, AZ, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Pilot lost control of airplane descending into layer of ground fog.

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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