Cessna 172K accident near Grass Valley, CA
On January 20, 2004, a Cessna 172K (airplane) was involved in an accident near Grass Valley, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 20, 2004
- Place
- Grass Valley, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.217°N, 121.000°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040122X00094
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 19, 2004, about 1825 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172K, N99LR, collided with trees while attempting to land at Nevada County Air Park (O17), Grass Valley, California. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) plan had been filed but subsequently canceled. The flight originated at O17 at 1648, and was destined for Palo Alto, California. Prior to departure from Grass Valley, the pilot obtained a preflight weather briefing at 1600, and was advised of marginal visual flight conditions. While en route to Palo Alto, the pilot was under the control of Bay Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). Nearing the destination, Bay TRACON observed the airplane's transponder discrete code change to 7600 (used by flight crews to indicate a communications failure). Bay TRACON determined that the pilot could hear them, but they could not hear his transmissions to them. Because of the requirement for full communications in controlled, Class B airspace, they suggested the pilot contact Stockton Airport control tower on the frequency they provided. The pilot contacted Stockton while 12 miles west of the airport, and Stockton could barely hear the pilot's transmissions. The pilot advised Stockton to cancel his IFR flight plan at 1731, and he would proceed visual flight rules (VFR) back to Grass Valley airport without VFR flight following. This was the last c
Probable cause
the pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions and failure to maintain an adequate terrain/object clearance altitude. Also causal was the pilot's improper in-flight decision to return to the origin airport in the face of deteriorating weather conditions instead of diverting to a more suitable alternate.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
Browse: California · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
