Siai-Marchetti SM 1019 accident near Novato, California, April 24, 2009
On April 24, 2009 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Siai-Marchetti SM 1019, registered N391RV, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Novato, California (Gnoss Field). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswinds. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's failure to take timely remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2009 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Novato, California · Gnoss Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Siai-Marchetti SM 1019 · all SM 1019s on the register
- Registration
- N391RV · no longer on the register · serial 045
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the planned termination of an instructional proficiency flight in his tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot attempted a full-stop landing in a nearly direct crosswind that was gusting to 15 knots. During the landing roll, the pilot failed to maintain directional control and the flight instructor providing dual instruction did not take action in time to remedy the situation. The airplane therefore veered sharply off the runway surface, and during the excursion sequence its right wing contacted the ground and sustained structural damage.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,789 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 15, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,421 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 2,093 as pilot in command; 271 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 23, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 12, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-B15G (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0Q3 Sonoma CA at 9:50 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 230° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR09CA229.