Cessna 172L accident near Novato, California, September 11, 2000
On September 11, 2000 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N84828, was substantially damaged in an accident near Novato, California (Gnoss Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing rollout resulting in a collision with a berm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2000 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Novato, California · Gnoss Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N84828 · no longer on the register · serial 17258632
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On the landing roll the airplane departed the runway to the left, crossing a taxiway and ditch before colliding with the far side portion of the ditch and coming to rest inverted. The student pilot had been practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings for about 2 hours. This was the last landing of the day. On the landing rollout the airplane started to drift to the left. He verified that he was not engaging the left brake. Simultaneously the airplane turned 360 degrees and scared him so that he didn't attempt to apply the brakes. He added power to abort the landing and the airplane crossed the ditch and struck the berm.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 53 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,587 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 3, 2000; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVO at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 163°F (73°C), dew point 129°F (54°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from DVO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.