# NTSB OAK74AP031: Piper PA-31, N6565L, Novato, CA, January 11, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 11, 1974
- 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: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 9, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 186892
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK74AP031
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74AP031

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0403  74/1/11    NOVATO,CALIF        PIPER PA-31         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 49, 5500
        TIME - 1438                    N6565L              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 500 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GNOSS FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN FRANCISCO,CALIF         NOVATO,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       45
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           80                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      SPECIAL VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RCVRD 1/13/74.SPEC VFR CLNC OUT OF HAMILTON AFB CTL ZONE.HAMILTON 1455PST WX.FLEW INTO HILL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6565L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6565L-1974-04-26), registration cancelled 1974-04-26, S/N 31-487 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31) (registry code 7103103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Gnoss Field

## 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 19740111006109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740111006109A), Jan 11, 1974: Piper PA31, Novato, CA, Destroyed. Rcvrd 1/13/74.spec VFR clnc out of hamilton afb ctl zone. Hamilton 1455PST wx. Flew into hill.

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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