1 person dead after plane crash at Gnoss Field Airport in Novato, officials say

NOVATO, Calif. (KGO) -- One person is dead after a plane crashed in Novato Saturday afternoon, the NTSB confirmed.

Firefighters said the plane and part of a hanger were on fire. A small vegetation fire was also ignited from the crash.

"I didn't hear anything. I suddenly saw this big black billowing cloud - black, black. And realized something is wrong," says Heather Thompson, describing the smoke from a plane that crashed into a hangar during take-off, and killing the pilot.

It happened just before 4 p.m. at Gnoss Field Airport.

"From what I hear, the plane sort of shimmied and went off the runway to the left, and into this hanger. And all I could see was what was left was the tail of the plane," Thompson said.

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One person who was at the airport tells ABC7 News that the windsocks, which help pilots determine which way the wind is blowing, were blowing in different directions. He says that means it was very gusty in the area and that the pilot may possibly have caught a bit of wind without any speed during takeoff. They added that the plane likely had a full tank of gas, which may also have impacted how big the fire got.

"We could see the one hangar. I believe it's only one, that was really burning," Thompson said.

The National Transportation Safety Board said in an email to ABC7 News that an NTSB investigator will arrive Sunday morning and will be focused on three primary areas: the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment.

That includes examining aircraft maintenance records, weather forecast and the pilot's license, as well as a 72-hour background check on the pilot to determine if there were any issues that could have affected the pilot's ability to safety operate the plane.

A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.