- Date
- September 4, 1991, 22:49 local (Sep 5, 1991, 05:49 UTC)
- Place
- Arroyo Grande, CA
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N739YGCessna 172
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report May 5, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910905037959A
- Case key
- 27350
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper altitude, and continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The 100 hour private pilot received a limited preflight weather briefing for a proposed night flight in a rental aircraft. He was advised that AIRMET sierra was in effect, which called for general IFR conditions over his route of flight. Additionally, there was a SIGMET for thunderstorm activity along the route. He arrived at his destination late in the evening. Witnesses stated the weather was very foggy with about 1/2 mile visibility. The aircraft collided with trees and terrain near the destination airport.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N739YG
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17270908
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Novo Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Novo Helicopters, Inc.
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- LGB · Long Beach, CA
- Destination
- L52 · Oceano, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 23
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 100 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Observed at
- SMR, 12 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.