# Accident 19970701016389A: Chris A1, Novato, CA, July 1, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 1997, 17:15 local time
- Place: Novato, CA
- Airport: Gnoss Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.0997° N, 122.6290° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0997&lon=-122.6290&mi=10
- Aircraft: N13HU, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N13HU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aviat A-1 (registry code 2210400, https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-360-A1D (registry code 41504, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHRIS A1
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 800 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA228) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970701016389A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE RUNWAY AFTER LANDING, WENT INTO A DITCH AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. (.19) ON JULY 1, 1997, AT 1715 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AVIAT AIRCRAFT A-1 HUSKY, N13HU, VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY 31 WHILE LANDING AT GNOSS FIELD, NOVATO, CALIFORNIA.  THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A DRAINAGE DITCH AND SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND INCLUDED WINDS FROM 210 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PRIVATE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT LOGAN, UTAH, ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AT 1345 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME AS A PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT TO NOVATO. (.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 31, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A CROSSWIND GUST.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND WENT INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH AS IT SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP.  WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE BOTTOM OF THE DITCH, IT NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK.  NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE OBSERVED BY FAA INSPECTORS WHO EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT.  EXAMINATION OF RUNWAY 31 REVEALED MARKS WHICH BEGAN NEAR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AT 1,934 FEET FROM THE    APPROACH END. AT A DISTANCE OF 2,110 FEET, TIRE TRACKS DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND CONTINUED 120 FEET UNTIL TERMINATING AT THE DRAINAGE DITCH.  THE 25-FOOT-WIDE BY 6-FOOT-DEEP DRAINAGE CANAL PARALLELED THE RUNWAY AND WAS 45 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY EDGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX97LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA228), Jul 2, 1997: Aviat A-1 (N13HU), Novato, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft. The gusty crosswind condition was a related factor.

## Other reports on N13HU (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20020808026379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020808026379A), Aug 8, 2002: Chris A1 (N13HU), Cocoa, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) After banner towing, the banner was dropped. The landing was attempted on runway 29 at Merritt Island Airport (coi), Merritt Island, Florida. The wind…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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