2 fatal · Cessna 172K · 2004-01-20 · Grass Valley, CA, USA
Event
NTSB number
LAX04FA096
Event ID
20040122X00094
Type
Accident
Date
2004-01-20
Location
Grass Valley, CA, USA
Coordinates
39.216945, -121.000274
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
2
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
2
Aircraft
Make
Cessna
Model
172K
Registration
N99LR
FAR Part
091
Engines
1
Damage
DEST
Conditions
Light
NITE
Weather
IMC
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.