Amateur-built SKYBOLT accident near Mt. Hamilton, California, August 9, 2003
On August 9, 2003 at about 4:45 pm local time, a amateur-built SKYBOLT, registered N94PL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mt. Hamilton, California (Reid-Hillview Of Santa Clara C airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 2003 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Mt. Hamilton, California · Reid-Hillview Of Santa Clara C · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKYBOLT
- Registration
- N94PL · no longer on the register · serial 55118501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while he was cruising at 5,500 mean sea level the engine quit, and he thought that he had run out of fuel. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site was not able to locate any fuel in any of the fuel tanks, and there was no indication of a fuel leak.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,086 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,982 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,451 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2003; 1.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1O3 Lodi CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Q99 San Martin CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 4:47 pm from RHV, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.