Piper PA-24-250 accident near Navato, California, March 28, 1985
On March 28, 1985 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6012P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Navato, California (Gnoss airport). 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
- March 28, 1985 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Navato, California · Gnoss · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6012P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1160
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS LANDED GEAR UP. THE PLT STATED THAT AS HE RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO LAND THE LNDG GEAR WARNING SOUNDED. HE APPLIED POWER BUT THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH A SCRAPING NOISE. HE DOES NOT REMEMBER SEEING A GREEN LITE FOR GEAR DWN INDICATION. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR THE LNDG GEAR MOTOR WAS TRIPPED. ALSO THE LANDING GEAR INDICATION WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO A BURNED WIRE CAUSING AN OPEN CIRCUIT.
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: 680 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 610 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,908 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 23, 1985; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCA Concord CA at 1:00 pm
- Destination: 056 Novato CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.