# NTSB LAX81FA078: Cessna 170A, N9117A, Morgan Hill, CA, March 20, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 20, 1979
- Place: Morgan Hill, CA · MORGAN HILL, CA
- Location: 37.1325° N, 121.6419° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Morgan Hill, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1325&lon=-121.6419&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137600
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA078
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA078

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0575  79/3/20  NR.MORGAN HILL,CA     CESSNA 170A         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 52, 1300
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N9117A              PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          SANTA MARIA,CA              PALO ALTO,CA                 OCEANO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 4/25/81.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9117A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9117A-1982-01-14), registration cancelled 1982-01-14, S/N 18876 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A
- Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (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 19790320000109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790320000109A), Mar 20, 1979: Cessna 170A, Morgan Hill, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Impacted trees on cloud shrouded mountain. Dark night. Indications of VFR pilot spatial disorientation.

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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