# NTSB LAX95LA111: Cessna 182C, N9036T, Novato, CA, February 19, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 1995, 20:00 local (Feb 19, 1995, 04:00 UTC) - Place: Novato, CA - Coordinates: 38.099105, -122.629882 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0991&lon=-122.6299&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29036 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29036/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA111 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper base leg alignment while flying in the traffic pattern and his misjudged distance and altitude during the approach. A factor which contributed to the accident was the dark nighttime lighting condition which reduced the pilot's ability to perceive that he had drifted off course. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis ON A DARK NIGHT, WITH 10 MILES VISIBILITY, THE PILOT MADE A TRAFFIC PATTERN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 31 AT THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. WHILE DESCENDING ON BASE LEG, THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DRIFT SOUTH OF COURSE. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND, AND IT COLLIDED WITH AN UNMARKED HILL ABOUT 3/4 MILE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY REPORTED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS A 'LACK OF GROUND REFERENCE,' HE DID NOT OBSERVE THE RISING TERRAIN OR THE SOUTHERLY DRIFT. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 1995, at 2000 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 182C, N9036T, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with a hill on the base leg to runway 31 at Gnoss Field, Novato, California. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the commercial pilot nor passenger were injured during the nighttime personal flight. The flight originated from Stockton, California, at 1915. On February 18, 1995, the pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board that no mechanical problems were experienced during the flight. The pilot indicated that he did not recognize he was low during the approach, and the airplane collided with a ridge about 3/4 mile south of the runway. On March 8, 1995, in the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," NTSB Form 6120.1, he reported that at the time of the accident it was a dark night, the sky was clear, and the visibility was about 10 miles. The pilot further reported that approaching the airport he may have encountered a "southerly drift" and "sinking air" which put him off course. Also, because there was a "lack of ground reference", the rising terrain was obscured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9036T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9036T-2014-11-20), registration cancelled 2014-11-20, S/N 52936, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182C - Registry model: [Cessna 182C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182c) (registry code 2072708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52936 - Airframe hours: 5644 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Taber L. Kopan - Registered owner: Taber L. Kopan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1994, 66 hours before - Departed: SCK, STOCKTON, CA - Airport: O56, Gnoss Field, runway 31, 3,300 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,358 total, 2,236 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19950218002179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950218002179A), Feb 18, 1995: Cessna 182C, Novato, CA, Substantial damage. On night approach allowed plane to drift off runway alignment. Struck unmarked hill mile short. Unsafe low approach 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.