Piper PA-38-112 accident near Novato, California, April 4, 1986
On April 4, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N91301, was substantially damaged in an accident near Novato, California (Novato airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- April 4, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Novato, California · Novato
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N91301 · no longer on the register · serial 3881A0155
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PA-38 LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A TAKEOFF WITH BOTH THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR PILOT AT THE CONTROLS. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE BUT BOTH PILOTS WERE UNINJURED. THE WIND WAS 90 DEGREES CROSSWIND AT 10 KNOTS GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THE STUDENT WAS TRYING TO STEER THE AIRCRAFT LIKE A CAR AND COULD HAVE INADVERTENTLY APPLIED OPPOSITE BRAKE INSTEAD OF RUDDER. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH BEFORE THE INSTRUCTOR COULD TAKE POSITIVE CORRECTIVE ACTION.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,675 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,832 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Marin Air Service
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,300 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.