Gnoss Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Novato, California 94947
Tuesady, July 1, 1997 17:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he was landing on runway 31, when the aircraft encountered a crosswind gust. The aircraft then veered off the right side of the runway and went into a drainage ditch as it slowed almost to a stop. When the aircraft contacted the bottom of the ditch, it nosed over onto its back. No mechanical discrepancies were observed by FAA inspectors who examined the aircraft. Examination of runway 31 revealed marks which began near the right side of the runway at 1,934 feet from the approach end. At a distance of 2,110 feet, tire tracks departed the right side of the runway and continued 120 feet until terminating at the drainage ditch. The 25-foot-wide by 6-foot-deep drainage canal paralleled the runway and was 45 feet from the runway edge.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft. The gusty crosswind condition was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/1/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City NOVATO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94947
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GNOSS FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 056
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1645 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID STS
Elevation of weather observation facility 125
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1069
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 1 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N13HU
NTSB Number LAX97LA228
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aviat
Aircraft Model A-1
Aircraft Series Identifier A-1
Aircraft Serial Number 1323
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 8 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 25
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARRIS AIR, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1530 N. 1000 WEST
Aircraft Owner City LOGAN
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84321
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHRISTOPHER T. CONDY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 101 GOODHILL ROAD
Operator City KENTFIELD
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94904
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LGU
Departure City LOGAN
Departure State UT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 056
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 3300
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --