LAX99LA135

The pilot stated that he was landing with a left quartering headwind. He reported that the touchdown was normal, but as he lowered the tail wheel, the aircraft weathervaned to the left into the wind. He applied full right pedal and initiated a go-around. The aircraft left the ground, turned downwind and lost lift. The airplane impacted the drainage ditch area parallel to the runway. There are drainage ditches and levees spanning the entire length on both sides of the runway. The ditches are approximately 6 to 8 feet deep and 12 feet wide, and are about 90 feet from the runway centerline. The levees are approximately 20 feet beyond the ditches. FAA Advisory Circular AC 150/5300-13, regarding runway and taxiway design, indicates the Object Free Area for the accident airport to be 200 feet on either side of the runway centerline. The AC requires the Obstacle Free Zone to be 125 feet on each side of the runway centerline, and states that obstacles within that zone cannot be higher than 3 inches above grade; the sides of the ditches and levee rise about 3 feet above grade.

On March 31, 1999, at 1435 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-22-135, N1244C, veered off runway 31 and collided with a ditch while landing at Gnoss Field in Novato, California. The aircraft, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot was seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and originated at the Sonoma Valley Airport, Sonoma, California, approximately 1425. The flight was terminating at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Oakland Flight Standards District Office spoke to the pilot following the accident. The pilot reported that the airport traffic was landing on runway 31 and the windsock indicated a 90-degree crosswind from the west. He stated that the winds were from approximately 230 degrees at 10 to 15 knots, which gave him a left quartering headwind. He reported that the touchdown was normal, but as he lowered the tail wheel, the aircraft weathervaned to the left into the wind. The pilot applied full right pedal, and then applied power and initiated a go-around. The pilot said the aircraft left the ground, turned downwind and lost lift. The aircraft impacted the drainage ditch area parallel to the runway. The main landing gear was pushed back and upward and the firewall was bent.

The FAA inspector reported that there are drainage ditches and levees paralleling the entire length of both sides of the runway. The ditches are approximately 6 to 8 feet deep and 12 feet wide and run about 90 feet from the runway centerline. The levees run approximately 20 feet beyond the ditches. According to the FAA Airport Safety Standards Supervisor, Gnoss Airport is federally funded and therefore, subject to the provisions of FAA Advisory Circular AC 150/5300-13 regarding runway and taxiway design. The AC defines the Object Free Area, the area that must be free of objects except for essential navaids, for Gnoss Airport to be 400 feet wide, with 200 feet on each side of the runway centerline. The Obstacle Free Zone requires 250 feet in width, 125 feet on each side of the runway centerline. Obstacles within these zones cannot be higher than 3 inches above grade; the sides of the ditches and levee rise about 3 feet above grade.

The airport manager reported that the runway was initially increased from 60 to 75 feet in width to help pilots with the continuous crosswind conditions at the airport. He further indicated that a future goal is to increase the runway width to 90 feet. He stated that although he believed the ditches and levees met the FAA safety requirements, he also believed that the barriers often posed a psychological barrier for pilots landing at the field.

The swampy area around the airport is a protected wetland under the control of the State of California and impinges on the ability of the airport to alter the ditches and levees.