Amateur-built EXECUTIVE accident near Tracy, California, November 29, 1984
On November 29, 1984 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built EXECUTIVE (helicopter), registered N4853A, was destroyed in an accident near Tracy, California. It was an instructional 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 1984 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tracy, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EXECUTIVE
- Registration
- N4853A · registry record · serial 18437316
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT HELICOPTER CRASHED WHILE ON AN UNAUTHORIZED SOLO FLIGHT. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER HE COMPLETED BUILDING THE HELICOPTER HE ACQUIRED PROFICIENCY BY OPERATING THE ENG & HOVERING ABOUT IN HIS 3 ACRE BACKYARD. HE SAID HE HAD FLOWN FOR ABOUT 45 MINS & GAINED MORE ALTITUDE THAN INTENDED. WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN THE SOFT GROUND RETARDED THE FORWARD MOVEMENT, THE MAIN ROTOR HIT THE GROUND, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER & CAUGHT FIRE.
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: student
- Flight time: 9 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1984; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotorway ROTORWAY EXEC (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Tracy CA at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 15 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:30 pm
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.