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Novato Aviation Accident Attorney

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Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754

Aviation Accidents at Gnoss Field

Gnoss Field (DVO), operated by the County of Marin, is a general aviation airport in Novato in Marin County, north of San Francisco Bay. It serves personal aviation, flight training, and agricultural operations in a region where the terrain transitions from the bay flats to the Marin hills. The NTSB has investigated five fatal accidents in the Novato area since 1982, with seven fatalities, and one serious-injury accident. That serious-injury investigation is particularly notable: the NTSB documented specific airport design failures at Gnoss Field that violated FAA standards — creating direct liability exposure for the County of Marin as airport operator.

Attorney Michael Rehm represents people injured in aviation accidents at Gnoss Field and throughout Marin County.

NTSB Accident Record at Gnoss Field

The following is drawn from the NTSB's CAROL accident database and represents historical investigation records only.

The most significant accident in the Gnoss Field record for liability purposes is not a fatal accident but the March 1999 serious-injury accident (NTSB Accident Report No. LAX99LA135). The NTSB investigation documented that drainage ditches and levees within the federally required Obstacle Free Zone around Gnoss Field's runway rose approximately three feet above grade — a violation of FAA Advisory Circular AC 150/5300-13, which governs airport design standards. The NTSB further found that the airport had failed to follow proper procedure in ensuring adequate obstacle clearance. A county-operated airport with documented, uncorrected obstacle encroachment into its Obstacle Free Zone is in a dangerous condition under Government Code § 835. The County's awareness of the condition and failure to correct it is directly relevant to the dangerous condition analysis.

Fatal accidents in the Novato area include an August 2024 Aero Commander 200D (WPR24FA290) with cause not yet stated; an August 2006 RV-6A crash (LAX06LA275) killing two after the NTSB found the pilot failed to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering in rising terrain, fog, and darkness; a March 1998 Piper PA-31-350 crash (LAX98FA106) killing one after the pilot failed to maintain adequate terrain clearance after initiating a descent; and an April 1993 Beech 95-B55 crash (LAX93FA173) killing two for undetermined reasons.

Liability at Gnoss Field

County of Marin as Airport Operator — Dangerous Condition

The March 1999 NTSB investigation is the most direct case in the Bay Area dataset for airport operator dangerous condition liability. Marin County operates Gnoss Field and bears responsibility for maintaining the airport in conformance with FAA design standards. Government Code § 835 imposes liability on a public entity when its property is in a dangerous condition that creates a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury. An Obstacle Free Zone that is encroached upon by three-foot levees within the zone is precisely the type of condition § 835 addresses — it is a physical departure from the design standard that exists to protect aircraft and their occupants. The County is vicariously liable for the acts of its employees under Government Code § 815.2.

Claims against Marin County require a government tort claim under Government Code § 911.2 within six months of the incident. Missing this deadline can potentially bar a lawsuit. Tolling may apply — contact Attorney Michael Rehm to assess the specific timeline in your case.

Terrain Clearance Failures

The August 2006 RV-6A accident (LAX06LA275) — in which the NTSB found the pilot failed to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering in rising terrain, fog, and darkness — illustrates the hazard that Marin County terrain presents to low-flying aircraft operating near Gnoss Field. A pilot who maneuvers at low altitude in reduced visibility conditions without terrain clearance violates 14 C.F.R. § 91.119, which sets minimum safe altitudes. Violation of that regulation is evidence of negligence per se under California Evidence Code § 669.

Filing Deadlines for Novato Aviation Claims

The personal injury statute of limitations is two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Claims against the County of Marin require a government tort claim within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Missing the six-month deadline can potentially bar a claim. Tolling may apply depending on the facts.

Related Pages

Attorney Michael Rehm represents aviation accident victims in Novato and throughout California on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (800) 978-0754 to arrange a free consultation.

The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts. The law can change — statutes are amended, cases are decided, and regulations are revised; nothing on this page should be relied upon as a statement of current law without verification. Deadlines and legal bars discussed on this page are general guides — whether a particular deadline applies, has run, or is subject to tolling, and whether a particular doctrine bars or limits recovery in your case, requires individual analysis. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss the specific facts of your situation.

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