Beech 35-A33 accident near Novato, California, April 22, 1987
On April 22, 1987 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Beech 35-A33, registered N573T, 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; 3 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 22, 1987 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Novato, California · Gnoss Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-A33 · all 35-A33s on the register
- Registration
- N573T · registry record · serial CD350
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE AT A POINT NEAR MIDFIELD ON THE 3360 FT RWY. HE RPTD SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OF UNRPTD ORIGIN. BOTH THE PLT AND THE PLT-RATED PAX THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY, HOWEVER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AFTER THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT LOST BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PLT MADE A SAFETY RECOMMENDATION WHICH INCLUDED 'INSPECT BRAKE PADS DURING PREFLIGHT, RELINE IF NOT WORKING PERFECTLY...'. THE PAX IN THE RIGHT SEAT REMARKED THAT THE PLT HAD FAILED TO PERFORM A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE ACFT BFR THE FLT.
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: 2,088 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,828 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1987; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental I0-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: SQL San Carlos CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,360 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.