# NTSB OAK77FA056: Cessna 172M, N1786V, Carmel Valley, CA, August 5, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 5, 1977
- Place: Carmel Valley, CA · CARMEL VALLEY, CA
- Location: 36.4797° N, 121.7324° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Carmel Valley, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4797&lon=-121.7324&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 146593
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK77FA056
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK77FA056

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2971   77/8/5  NR.CARMEL VALLEY,CA   CESSNA 172M         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 50, 15000
        TIME - 2023                    N1786V              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BAKERSFIELD,CA             CARMEL VALLEY,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
           TERRAIN - OTHER
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          SMOKE                                                    IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DARK NIGHT,SMOKE FRM FOREST FIRE.FLT BELOW OBSTRUCTING TERRAIN.HIT 60DEG SLOPE.RECOVERED 9/9/77.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1786V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1786V-1977-11-11), registration cancelled 1977-11-11, S/N 17263750 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (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 19770805030349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770805030349A), Aug 5, 1977: Cessna 172M, Carmel Valley, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Dark night,smoke frm forest fire. Flt below obstructing terrain. Hit 60DEG slope. Recovered 9/9/77.

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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