One person was confirmed dead after a fiery airplane crash at Gnoss Field Airport in Novato on Saturday afternoon. The tragic incident occurred around 3:50 p.m. when an Aero Commander 200D aircraft, shortly after taking off, crashed into a hangar and burst into flames, according to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim, presumed to be the pilot, has not yet been identified. Following the crash, the airport was placed on lockdown, and an investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was dispatched to the scene.
The NTSB has indicated that its investigator is expected to arrive on Sunday morning to document the wreckage, which will then be transported to a secure facility for further analysis. The investigation will include a thorough review of flight track data, air traffic control recordings, aircraft maintenance records, and weather conditions at the time of the crash. Additionally, the NTSB will gather information about the pilot and seek witness statements along with any available cellphone or surveillance video footage.
The NTSB emphasized that it would not speculate on the cause of the crash during the ongoing investigation, with a preliminary report expected to be released within 30 days.
