Close X

Petaluma Aviation Accident Attorney

Contact Here.

Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754

Aviation Accidents at Petaluma Municipal Airport

Petaluma Municipal Airport (O69), operated by the City of Petaluma, is a non-towered general aviation airport in Sonoma County south of the city of Petaluma. It serves flight training, personal aviation, and agricultural operations in the North Bay. The surrounding terrain includes the Petaluma River valley and low coastal hills subject to marine layer and fog intrusion from San Pablo Bay. The NTSB has investigated twelve fatal accidents in the Petaluma area since 1982, producing eighteen fatalities — the highest fatal accident count of any general aviation airport in the North Bay portion of the dataset — and two serious-injury accidents. VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions is the dominant cause across the fatal record.

Attorney Michael Rehm represents people injured in aviation accidents at Petaluma Municipal Airport and throughout Sonoma County. The Petaluma accident record includes commercial sightseeing operations, flight school accidents, and a recurring pattern of weather-related crashes that raises questions about flight training standards, operator oversight, and aircraft airworthiness.

NTSB Accident Record at Petaluma Municipal Airport

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

The highest-fatality single event in the Petaluma record is October 1993, in which a Cessna 177RG crashed killing four (NTSB Accident Report No. LAX94FA004). The NTSB found the cause was VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions and failure to maintain aircraft control. A May 2018 accident (WPR18FA150) killed two after the NTSB found a partial engine failure on initial climb was caused by a loose magneto — a maintenance finding. A loose magneto that causes an engine failure on departure is a component that was not properly secured during the last inspection or maintenance event. In April 2018, a Mooney M20J departed Petaluma into instrument meteorological conditions and crashed, killing one (ANC18FA028). A December 2000 Cessna TR182 crash (LAX01FA055) killed one after the NTSB found improper IFR procedure and failure to maintain course alignment. An October 1988 Cessna 172N crash (LAX89FA022) killed two after the NTSB found the pilot attempted VFR flight during instrument meteorological conditions.

The February 2016 serious-injury accident (WPR16LA070) is notable for its commercial aviation context. The accident involved a commercial hot air balloon sightseeing flight operated by a revenue operator. A child passenger sustained serious injuries when the pilot made an inadequate compensation for wind during the landing approach, resulting in a hard landing. A commercial sightseeing balloon operator conducting revenue flights is a common carrier under Public Utilities Code § 2100 and is held to the utmost care and diligence standard under Public Utilities Code § 2101.

Liability at Petaluma Municipal Airport

City of Petaluma as Airport Operator

Petaluma Municipal Airport is operated by the City of Petaluma, a public entity. Claims against the City for dangerous conditions at the airport are governed by Government Code § 835. The City is vicariously liable for the acts of its employees under Government Code § 815.2. Claims against the City 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.

Negligent Maintenance — Loose Magneto

The 2018 accident (WPR18FA150) — in which the NTSB found a loose magneto caused partial engine failure on departure — is a maintenance negligence claim. A magneto that separates from the engine on initial climb was not properly torqued or secured during the last maintenance event. 14 C.F.R. Part 43 governs the standards applicable to certificated aircraft maintenance. A mechanic who fails to properly secure a magneto and signs off the aircraft as airworthy has breached both the regulatory standard and the duty of care under Civil Code § 1714.

Commercial Balloon Operator — Common Carrier Standard

The 2016 Petaluma balloon accident (WPR16LA070) illustrates common carrier liability in a non-aircraft context. California does not limit the common carrier standard to airplanes — any operator that transports members of the public for compensation is a common carrier. A balloon sightseeing company that sells tickets to the public and conducts flights for revenue is held to the utmost care and diligence standard. A hard landing caused by the pilot's inadequate wind compensation is a breach of that standard, and the operator bears liability for injuries to paying passengers.

Filing Deadlines for Petaluma Aviation Claims

The personal injury statute of limitations is two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Claims against the City of Petaluma 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 Petaluma 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.

Southern California Areas Served:

Phone: (619) 787-3456 Areas Served: San Diego, Vista, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido, San Marcos, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, El Centro, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Clarita, Glendale, Lancaster, Palmdale, Pomona, Torrance, Pasadena, El Monte, Downey, West Covina, Norwalk, Burbank, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Temecula, Bakersfield, Clovis, and everywhere in between.

Bay Area Areas Served

Phone: (831) 431-0986 Areas Served: Santa Cruz, Aptos, Capitola, Watsonville, Salinas, Monterey, Seaside, Carmel, San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, Berkeley, Livermore, Concord, Richmond, Walnut Creek, Antioch, San Rafael, Novato, San Jose, Morgan Hill, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Napa, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Fairfield, Vallejo, Vacaville, Dixon, Solano County, San Benito, Daly City, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Redwood City, Belmont, San Carlos, San Bruno, Pleasanton, Union City, San Leandro, Milpitas, Pittsburg, Danville, Rohnert Park and the entire Bay Area.

Northern California Office & Areas Served

2121 Broadway Unit 188860 Sacramento, CA 95818 Phone: (916) 233-7346 Areas Served: Sacramento, Elk Grove, Antelope, Citrus Heights, Carmichael, the friendly confines of Land Park, Folsom, Yolo, Woodland, West Sacramento, Davis, Placerville, South Lake Tahoe, Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Auburn, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Yuba City, Marysville, Wheatland, Colusa, San Joaquin County, Lodi, Manteca, Stockton, Tracy, Lathrop, Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale, Stanislaus County, Humboldt County, Arcata, Mckinleyville, Fortuna, Eureka, Butte County, Oroville, Paradise, Chico, Mendocino, Ukiah, Colusa, Shasta County, Redding, Calaveras, Yreka, Amador, Jackson, Lassen, Susanville, Plumas County, Quincy, Nevada County, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Truckee, Lakeport, Sonora, Madera, Crescent City, Trinity, and all of Northern California.

LawLytics