Piper PA-31T2 accident near Novato, California, July 8, 1987
On July 8, 1987 at about 1:43 am local time, a Piper PA-31T2, registered N38WA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Novato, California (Gnoss Fld 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
- July 8, 1987 · about 1:43 am local time
- Place
- Novato, California · Gnoss Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31T2 · all PA-31T2s on the register
- Registration
- N38WA · registry record · serial 31T8166006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR APRX 5 MILES FROM THE ARPT AND LOWERED PARTIAL FLAPS. APRX 2 MILES FROM THE ARPT THE PLT MADE SHALLOW S TURNS FOR SPACING AND EXTENDED THE REST OF THE FLAPS. THE PLT DOES NOT REMEMBER IF THERE WERE THREE GREEN. THE REMAINDER OF THE APPROACH THE PLT WAS MAKING CONSTANT POWER ADJUSTMENTS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE HIGH WIND CONDITIONS. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE RWY WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. A WITNESS IN THE AREA OBSERVED THE ACFT LAND WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. WHEN THE ACFT WAS RETRIEVED OFF OF THE RWY, THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED WITH THE THREE GREEN INDICATING DOWN AND LOCKED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,820 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 9,820 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,560 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 5, 1986; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Carrao Construction CO.
The flight
- Departed from: OAK Oakland CA at 1:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.