Piper PA-28RT accident near Novato, California, July 30, 1983
On July 30, 1983 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT, registered N2510U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Novato, California (Gnoss Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1983 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Novato, California · Gnoss Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT · all PA-28RTs on the register
- Registration
- N2510U · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7931270
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LEFT THE RWY DURING LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH A DIRT EMBANKMENT. THE PLT WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. THE TOWER HAD ADVISED HIM THAT RWY 13 WAS IN USE AND THERE WAS RIGHT CROSSWIND. DURING THE 3RD LANDING AS THE PLT WAS RAISING THE FLAPS HE ALSO APPLIED THE BRAKES. CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT. THE PLT HAD REPORTEDLY USED FULL FLAPS AND AN APPROACH SPEED OF 80 KTS DURING THIS LANDING. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 10 KTS. THE PLT REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 12 KTS. THE BRAKES WERE EXAMINED AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND FOUND TO BE NORMAL WITH PADS ALMOST NEW IN APPEARANCE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 9 in the last 90 days; 128 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,268 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 1983; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Golden Bear Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.