20020302004089I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Blanca 14193 · Novato, CA · March 2, 2002

Date: March 2, 2002 · 16:26 local
Place: Novato, CA
Airport: Gnoss Field Airport
Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N7634E
Reported as: Blanca 14193
Reported engine: Continental IO470*
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,000 total1,500 in this make and model12 in the last 90 days

N7634ERegistered now · Downer BELLANCA 14-19-3S/N 4136 · Built 1959 Airframe modelDowner BELLANCA 14-19-3 Engine modelContinental I0-470 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Mr. Sarasy was setting up on a 45 approach to runway 13 at the Novato airport (dvo). On his approach he heard on the radio that runway 13 was in use. He changed his approach to runway 31. As he did, he again went through his approach check list. At the point where the check list instructs him to extend the gear, he instead retracted the gear. He stated that he had already extended the gear earlier on the approach to the other runway. At touch down he noticed that the gear was not extended. The aircraft touched down and skidded to the left of the runway. It struck a taxi indicator light and came to rest about mid-field.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) MR. SARASY WAS SETTING UP ON A 45 APPROACH TO RUNWAY 13 AT THE NOVATO AIRPORT (DVO). ON HIS APPROACH HE HEARD ON THE RADIO THAT RUNWAY 13 WAS IN USE. HE CHANGED HIS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 31. AS HE DID, HE AGAIN WENT THROUGH HIS APPROACH CHECK LIST. AT THE POINT WHERE THE CHECK LIST INSTRUCTS HIM TO EXTEND THE GEAR, HE INSTEAD RETRACTED THE GEAR. HE STATED THAT HE HAD ALREADY EXTENDED THE GEAR EARLIER ON THE APPROACH TO THE OTHER RUNWAY. AT TOUCH DOWN HE NOTICED THAT THE GEAR WAS NOT EXTENDED. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AND SKIDDED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. IT STRUCK A TAXI INDICATOR LIGHT AND CAME TO REST ABOUT MID-FIELD.