# Accident 19990331002909A: Piper PA22135, Novato, CA, March 31, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 31, 1999, 14:30 local time
- Place: Novato, CA
- Airport: Gnoss Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.1000° N, 122.6294° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1000&lon=-122.6294&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1244C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1244C-2002-06-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22-135 (registry code 7102206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA22135
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA135) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990331002909A

## Narrative

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

ACFT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING, RAN OFF THE RWY, AND STRUCK A DITCH, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (-23) THE PILOT WAS LANDING TO RUNWAY 31 WITH A QUARTERING LEFT HEADWIND. THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL AND SO WAS THE TOUCHDOWN. THE WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE APPROX. 220 DEGREES AT ABOUT 10 KNOTS. AS THE TAILWHEEL LOWERED TO THE RUNWAY SURFACE, THE A/C STARTED TO WEATHER VANE TO THE LEFT (INTO THE WIND). THE PILOT ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A RETURN TO FLGIHT CONDITIONS AND APPLIED POWER FOR TAKEOFF. AS THE A/C BECAME LIGHT, OR STARTED TO LEAVE THE GROUND (THE PILOT IS UNSURE) THE AIRCRAFT TURNED DOWNWIND, LOST LIFT AND IMPACTED THE SIDE OF A DITCH. (COMMENTS FROM INSPECTOR^PRIVACY DATA OMI^ *THE IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT SEVERLY BENT THE ENGINE FIREWALL WITH THE ENIGNE THEN ANGLING DOWNWARD WITH THE LOWER ENGINE COWL SEVERLY CRUSHED. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WERE ALSO PUSHED BACKWARD AND ROLLED UPWARD. A/C MAINTENANCE OR A/C DESIGN WAS NOT CAUSAL TO THIS ACCIDENT. PILOT SKILL/JUDGEMENT WAS PRIMARILY CAUSAL DUE TO LOW TAILWHEEL A/C FLYING TIME AND LANDING WITH WIND GUSTS.

## 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 LAX99LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA135), Mar 31, 1999: Piper PA-22-135 (N1244C), Novato, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for the wind conditions and to maintain directional control of the aircraft while landing. A factor is the airport's failure to follow proper…

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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