Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 172 N739YG

5 September 1991 · Arroyo Grande, California, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 5 September 1991 at about 05:49 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N739YG, operated by Novo Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Arroyo Grande, California, United States. 4 people were on board and 3 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 05:49
Classification
Accident
Location
Arroyo Grande, California, United States
Coordinates
35.1602, -120.4293
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Registration
N739YG
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Novo Helicopters, Inc.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Long Beach → Oceano
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
IMC
Light
Night/Dark
NTSB number
LAX91LA383

People

3 people died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
4 3 1 0 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE, AND CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE 100 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED A LIMITED PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING FOR A PROPOSED NIGHT FLIGHT IN A RENTAL AIRCRAFT. HE WAS ADVISED THAT AIRMET SIERRA WAS IN EFFECT, WHICH CALLED FOR GENERAL IFR CONDITIONS OVER HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A SIGMET FOR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ALONG THE ROUTE. HE ARRIVED AT HIS DESTINATION LATE IN THE EVENING. WITNESSES STATED THE WEATHER WAS VERY FOGGY WITH ABOUT 1/2 MILE VISIBILITY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN NEAR THE DESTINATION AIRPORT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 172 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
7 Apr 1991 Cessna 172P
N9671A
College Park, Maryland, United States Civil Air Patrol, Inc. No injuries -
25 Apr 1991 Cessna 172
N66717
Detroit, Michigan, United States
no coordinates
Eximous Flying Club, Inc. No injuries -
24 Jul 1991 Cessna 172N
N5352D
Napa, California, United States Bridgeford Flying SVC. No injuries -
9 Apr 1991 Cessna 172H
N3781F
Morehead, Kentucky, United States Roger Wend Minor injuries -
5 Apr 1991 Cessna 172A
N9852T
Hood River, Oregon, United States Paul J. Welp No injuries -
31 Mar 1991 Cessna 172M
N6852H
Ogden, Utah, United States Alta Aircraft No injuries -

All 12,209 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
20 Jul 1991 Cessna C-172P
N54694
Hesperia, California, United States South Bay Aviation No injuries -
24 Jul 1991 Beechcraft 76
N6045M
Sacramento, California, United States Altair Aviation Corp. No injuries -
27 Jul 1991 Ayres S2R
N3087D
Visalia, California, United States Gilbert Aviation Industries Serious injuries -
1 Aug 1991 Cessna 421C
N98455
Auburn, California, United States Edward Mueller No injuries -
2 Aug 1991 Champion 7GCBC
N1693G
Lake Elsinore, California, United States
no coordinates
Halbeisen, John F Fatal 2
2 Aug 1991 Mooney M20E
N5819Q
Riverside, California, United States
no coordinates
Todd Dreyer Minor injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States