Cirrus Design Corp. SR22 accident near Novato, California, June 10, 2007
On June 10, 2007 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cirrus Design Corp. SR22, registered N171SR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Novato, California (Gnoss Field). It was an instructional 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 instructor's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A contributing factor was the wind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 2007 · about 9:15 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
- Cirrus Design Corp. SR22
- Registration
- N171SR · registry record · serial 2422
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the airplane approached the destination airport, the two pilots, a student pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI), checked the automated weather observation system and noted that the winds were from 210 degrees at 15 knots. The aircraft entered the traffic pattern for runway 31 and prepared to land. Other aircraft landing on the same runway reported over the common traffic advisory frequency that there was "pretty much a direct cross wind" and "wind shear over the hills when turning base to final." The student pilot flew a stable approach with close supervision from the CFI. While flaring, the aircraft was "hit by a massive wind gust that pushed the plane onto the runway and caused a bounce." The CFI took control of the aircraft and "tried to save the landing." The CFI applied full throttle with the intention of going around, but was not able to get the airplane into the air. The aircraft then veered to the right, cleared a ditch that ran parallel to the runway and came to a stop in the grass with the gear collapsed.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,140 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 1,046 as pilot in command; 532 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 27 hours in all; 27 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 115 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KVGT Las Vegas NV at 6:15 pm
- Destination: KDVO Novato CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,300 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.