Novato Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Novato, California 94945
Friday, December 4, 1992 6:25 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR (VASI) FIXTURE DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF, BUT AFTER MAKING A LOW PASS OVER THE RUNWAY SHE WAS ABLE TO DISCERN THE AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT. THE PILOT LANDED AFTER COMPLETING THE LOW APPROACH OVER THE RUNWAY. DURING THE ROLL OUT THE PILOT SAW THE VASI STRUCTURE AND ATTEMPTED TO STEER AROUND IT, BUT THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE FIXTURE. THE AIRPORT MANAGER REPORTED THAT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND AN INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE INOPERATIVE RUNWAY LIGHTS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/4/1992
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 625
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City NOVATO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94945
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NOVATO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID O56
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 870
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 4 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1013
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50032
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4338N
NTSB Number LAX93LA061
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28
Aircraft Serial Number 28-8490049
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 10 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 44
Airframe Hours 3301
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FBN AIRCRAFT CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 944 MARKET STREET
Aircraft Owner City SAN FRANCISCO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94102
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MARIN AIR SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 351 AIRPORT RD.
Operator City NOVATO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94945
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 CCR
Departure City CONCORD
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 600
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 3300
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --