# NTSB LAX80DVG11: Cessna 172RG, N5552R, Grass Valley, CA, December 27, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 27, 1979
- Place: Grass Valley, CA · GRASS VALLEY, CA
- Location: 39.2203° N, 121.0527° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grass Valley, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2203&lon=-121.0527&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 14, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132684
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80DVG11
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DVG11

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3489  79/12/27   GRASS VALLEY,CA     CESSNA 172RG        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 110
        TIME - 2220                    N5552R              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 33 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - NEVADA COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN FRANSISCO,CA            GRASS VALLEY,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED WRONG RUNWAY RELATIVE TO EXISTING WIND
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO INITIATE GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT QUARTERING TAIL WIND 203-247 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          290                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTS TO 20KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5552R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Nevada 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 19791227037289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791227037289A), Dec 27, 1979: Cessna 172, Grass Valley, CA, Substantial damage. Lost control of acft on night crosswind landing. Veered off side of runway into a ditch.

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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