# NTSB LAX80FA051: Cessna 172, N6788A, Eureka, CA, March 7, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 7, 1979
- Place: Eureka, CA · EUREKA, CA
- Location: 40.7990° N, 124.1540° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eureka, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7990&lon=-124.1540&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 29, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137017
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA051
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA051

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0872   79/3/7  NR.EUREKA,CA          CESSNA 172          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 33, 61 TOTAL
        TIME - 2135                    N6788A              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 27 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MURRAY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         EUREKA,CA                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       48
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE-2/13/80.PLT'S MED CERT NOT VALID FOR NGT OR COLOR SIGNAL CONTROL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6788A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6788A-1980-02-08), registration cancelled 1980-02-08, S/N 28888 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Murray

## 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 19790307009969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790307009969A), Mar 7, 1979: Cessna 172, Eureka, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Student pilot with passengers departed at night into a low ceiling. Crashed in wooded area. No ground lights.

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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