# NTSB Accident LAX04FA096
> **Cessna 172K** · 2004-01-20 · Grass Valley, CA, USA · FATL
## 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.

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*Source: [NTSB CAROL](https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search?source=ntsb&type=event&ntsb_number=LAX04FA096) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*