Amateur-built Flying Boat accident near Tracy, California, August 28, 2003
On August 28, 2003 at about 3:38 pm local time, a amateur-built Flying Boat, registered N1216Z, was destroyed in an accident near Tracy, California (Tracy Municipal airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate design of the engine exhaust system and inappropriate selection of propeller materials by the designer/builder, which resulted in separation of the propeller blades during takeoff/initial climb, and a subsequent in-flight collision with terrain during the ensuing off-airport emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2003 · about 3:38 pm local time
- Place
- Tracy, California · Tracy Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Flying Boat
- Registration
- N1216Z · no longer on the register · serial 002
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A single engine, amphibian, four person airplane, designed and built by the pilot, lost propeller thrust and collided with terrain. Witnesses stated the airplane took off and climbed to about 150 feet, when it started to turn back to the airport. As it turned, it descended into a gravel pit area, collided with a raised embankment, and was immediately engulfed in fire. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine exhaust outlet was about 9 inches from the composite propeller. Hot exhaust gasses from the outlet weakened the propeller blades, ultimately resulting in propeller failure and lost of propeller thrust.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 22, 2003; 0 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Mazda 13B/20B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KTCY Tracy CA at 3:35 pm
- Destination: KTCY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KSCK, 8 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.