# NTSB OAK79FA029: Cessna 172N, N733HG, Livermore, CA, May 6, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 6, 1979
- Place: Livermore, CA · LIVERMORE, CA
- Location: 37.6870° N, 121.7598° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Livermore, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6870&lon=-121.7598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 19, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135655
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK79FA029
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79FA029

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1153   79/5/6  NR.LIVERMORE,CA       CESSNA 172N         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 29, 131
        TIME - 1745                    N733HG              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 103 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MADERA,CA                   SAN JOSE,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)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                   UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      40
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          200                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE:5/7/79.WITNESS STATED CLOUD LAYER DROPPED BELOW LVL OF ACCID SITE IN MTNS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N733HG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N733HG-1980-12-23), registration cancelled 1980-12-23, S/N 172-68302 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (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 19790506015219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790506015219A), May 6, 1979: Cessna 172N, Livermore, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Noninstrument pilot operated into area of low ceilings and visibility in mountainous terrain. Lost control of acft

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.