Marina Municipal Airport, Marina, California

Airport Location:  The Marina Municipal Airport is located 2 miles east of Marina, California.

Airport History:

The airport is on the former site of the Fritzsche Army Air Field, built in the early 1960s at Fort Ord, which closed in 1994.

Marina Airport Today:  Obstructions reported; Deer in the area; Old control tower 100'; Elevated Water Tank; Intensive Flight Training; Parachuting;



Airport Services & Amenities: Public transportation; Taxis; Rental cars; Restaurant on the field; Marina Airport Restaurant and Bar; Lodging within 1 mile;

Special Events and Attractions: Beaches; California State University at Monterey; Laguna Seca Raceway; Monterey Bay Aquarium; Pacific Grove;

Airport Area Accident History:
Accident occurred Sunday, June 04, 2006 in Marina, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 2/26/2007
Aircraft: Cessna 180A, registration: N180LG
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
The pilot's seat slid aft during the takeoff roll and the airplane nosed over after veering off the runway surface. As the pilot powered the airplane for the takeoff roll, his seat slid aft and he was unable to reach the controls to maintain control of the airplane. It veered left off the runway and came to rest inverted. Post accident examination of the seat track showed that the seat locking pin positively engaged in all of the seat track holes. The most forward hole contained a bolt used as a forward seat stop to prevent the seat from coming off of the seat track. When the seat pin was engaged in this hole, full depth engagement was not possible. Rub marks were present on the bolt shank that was visible through the seat track hole. The pilot normally flew the airplane with the seat in its forward most position. The airplane manufacturer did not design the seat stop and there was no installation record of the bolt used as a seat stop in the airplane maintenance records. The airplane was equipped with an after-market backup seat stop to prevent the seat from slipping aft if the primary seat locking mechanism failed. Although there were no mechanical problems noted with the device, the backup stop was not secured to the seat track. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: the installation of the unapproved forward seat stop by unknown maintenance personnel, which did not allow for full depth engagement of the seat lock pin, resulting in the seat slipping aft during the takeoff roll and subsequent loss of directional control. A contributing factor to the accident was the pilot's failure to secure the backup seat stop. ===
Accident occurred Sunday, December 09, 2001 in Marina, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 6/2/2004
Aircraft: Rominger Zic Zac Bird, registration: N204ED
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
About 800 feet above ground level during the airplane's roll out turn onto the final approach leg for landing, the right wing spar broke and the wing separated from the airplane. Thereafter, the airplane commenced an uncontrolled descent until impacting an open field. The pilot built the experimental airplane principally from wood and fabric components. A family member reported that the pilot had designed the "one of a kind" airplane and planned to compete for various speed and climb performance records for airplanes having gross weights less than 660 pounds. An examination of the separated right wing's internal structure revealed evidence of a pre-impact fuel leak. Styrofoam-like material had been used inside the wing, and it was discolored from fuel. The accident occurred on the first flight since the pilot ground looped the airplane, during which mishap the right wing was damaged. Following the ground loop , fuel leaked from the right wing which weakened the wing's wood structure. The pilot maintained his airplane.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: the failure the right wing spar and the subsequent separation of the right wing. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate maintenance, and the weakened wing structure due to a preexisting fuel tank leak.
 Airport Approach / Landing: