Amateur-built AVID FLYER accident near Tracy, California, June 12, 1988
On June 12, 1988 at about 2:00 pm local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER, registered N4642S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tracy, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- June 12, 1988 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tracy, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID FLYER
- Registration
- N4642S · registry record · serial 40
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL HIGH SPEED TAXI TEST, THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS OF THE ENGINE. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACC REPORT.
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
- Flight time: 880 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430-RR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1Q4 Tracy CA at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.