# NTSB OAK75AP020: Cessna 170B, N3237A, Santa Cruz, CA, December 1, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 1, 1974
- Place: Santa Cruz, CA · SANTA CRUZ, CA
- Location: 36.9744° N, 122.0353° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Cruz, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9744&lon=-122.0353&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 10, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144966
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK75AP020
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75AP020

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4100   74/12/1   SANTA CRUZ,CALIF    CESSNA 170B         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 25, 450
        TIME - 0930                    N3237A              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SKY PARK
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA MARIA,CALIF           SANTA CRUZ,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LOST CTL DRG PULL UP FROM LOW PASS IN FOG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3237A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3237A-1975-03-13), registration cancelled 1975-03-13, S/N 25881, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Sky Park

## 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 19741201043409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741201043409A), Dec 1, 1974: Cessna 170B, Santa Cruz, CA, Destroyed. Lost ctl drg pull up from low pass in 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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