# NTSB OAK78FA004: Cessna 172K, N7330G, Willits, CA, November 4, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 4, 1977
- Place: Willits, CA · WILLITS, CA
- Location: 39.4050° N, 123.3489° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Willits, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4050&lon=-123.3489&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144672
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78FA004
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FA004

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3746   77/11/4 NR.WILLITS,CA         CESSNA 172K         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 24, 228
        TIME - 1450                    N7330G              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 35 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN JOSE,CA                 EUREKA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 11/7/77.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7330G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7330G-1978-02-14), registration cancelled 1978-02-14, S/N 17259030 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (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 19771104041209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771104041209A), Nov 4, 1977: Cessna 172K, Willits, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Recovery date 11/7/77.

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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