# NTSB LAX81FVD22: Cessna 172, N6085A, Novato, CA, May 11, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 11, 1981
- Place: Novato, CA · NOVATO, CA
- Location: 38.0851° N, 122.5483° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Novato, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0851&lon=-122.5483&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126719
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FVD22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FVD22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0609  81/5/11    NOVATO,CA           CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 1803
        TIME - 2115                    N6085A              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 630 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GNOSS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NOVATO,CA                   SANTA ROSA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAKEOFF: RUN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - AIRPORT SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL: FAILURE TO NOTIFY OF UNSAFE COND/AND OR FAILURE TO MARK OBSTRUCTION
        REMARKS- RWY TORN-UP AFTR ARR PREV DAY.PREFLT,TAXI,RUN-UP OBSRVD BY ARPT PERS.X ON GRASS ADJ TO RWY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6085A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6085A-2000-03-08), registration cancelled 2000-03-08, S/N 28685 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Gnoss

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810511023759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810511023759A), May 11, 1981: Cessna 172, Novato, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to take off from runway under construction. Airport was closed.

## Other investigations on N6085A (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 DEN99FA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99FA051), Mar 14, 1999: Cessna 172 (N6085A), Gill, CO, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's intentional maneuvering at an unwarranted low altitude resulting in a collision with the ground. Factors were the pilot's ostentatious behavioral display and reduced lighting (dusk)…

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.

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