Gnoss Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Novato, California 94945
Friday, April 24, 2009 15:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the planned termination of an instructional proficiency flight in his tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot attempted a full-stop landing in a nearly direct crosswind that was gusting to 15 knots. During the landing roll, the pilot failed to maintain directional control and the flight instructor providing dual instruction did not take action in time to remedy the situation. The airplane therefore veered sharply off the runway surface, and during the excursion sequence its right wing contacted the ground and sustained structural damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswinds. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's failure to take timely remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/24/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Novato
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94945
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 380837N
Event Location Longitude 1223322W
Event Location Airport Gnoss Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KDVO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25466
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 8 2009 10:51AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N391RV
NTSB Number WPR09CA229
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 SIAI-MARCHETTI
Aircraft Model SM 1019
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 045
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Oct 12 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name PLANE TWO LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2001 TIMBERLINE LN
Aircraft Owner City PETALUMA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94954-1841
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Nils C. Lind
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City San Francisco
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 94133
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 0Q3
Departure City Sonoma
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1450
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KDVO
Destination City Novato
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 14 2009 4:51PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 3300
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --