Piper PA-28 accident near Novato, California, December 4, 1992
On December 4, 1992 at about 2:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N4338N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Novato, California (Novato airport). It was a personal 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
FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND AN INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE INOPERATIVE RUNWAY LIGHTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 1992 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Novato, California · Novato · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N4338N · registry record · serial 28-8490049
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR (VASI) FIXTURE DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF, BUT AFTER MAKING A LOW PASS OVER THE RUNWAY SHE WAS ABLE TO DISCERN THE AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT. THE PILOT LANDED AFTER COMPLETING THE LOW APPROACH OVER THE RUNWAY. DURING THE ROLL OUT THE PILOT SAW THE VASI STRUCTURE AND ATTEMPTED TO STEER AROUND IT, BUT THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE FIXTURE. THE AIRPORT MANAGER REPORTED THAT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING.
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: 163 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,301 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 10, 1992; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Marin Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.