Petaluma Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Petaluma, California 94953
Friday, August 24, 1990 13:01 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON FINAL APPROACH, THE CROSSWIND WAS ABT 10 - 15 DEG OFF THE NOSE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE MAIN WHEELS, BUT WHEN THE TAILWHEEL BEGAN TO SETTLE AT ABT MIDFIELD, THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE PLT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECT CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE ENTERED INTO SOFT DIRT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAT NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. GND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE WINDS AT THE APPROACH END WERE LIGHT & VARIABLE, BUT AT MIDFIELD THE WINDS WERE EXTREMELY VARIABLE AND GUSTY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/24/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1301
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City PETALUMA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94953
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PETALUMA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 069
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 79
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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 Day
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) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 342
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 24 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1615
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41152
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N82KF
NTSB Number LAX90LA299
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 de Havilland
Aircraft Model DH-82A
Aircraft Series Identifier DH-82A
Aircraft Serial Number 90681
Certified Max Gross Weight 1825
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNKNOWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TRAVERSI, DAVID C.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 180
Operator City PETALUMA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94953
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 069
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 069
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 29
Runway Length 3600
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --