Amateur-built Zodiac 601 XL accident near Sumner, Washington, September 4, 2003
On September 4, 2003 at about 11:54 pm local time, a amateur-built Zodiac 601 XL, registered N819GS, was destroyed in an accident near Sumner, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power during the initial climb. Factors include the in-flight collision with trees during the uncontrolled descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2003 · about 11:54 pm local time
- Place
- Sumner, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zodiac 601 XL
- Registration
- N819GS · no longer on the register · serial 6-4975
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In a written statement the pilot reported that the water takeoff was normal, however, 400 to 500 feet into the climb, the engine quit. The pilot reported that a straight ahead landing was not possible due to boats on the water, and elected to land near a residential street on Snag Island. In a supplemental written statement, the pilot reported that following the engine failure he turned the airplane to the left, approximately 180 degrees, in an effort to reach a suitable area for landing. The statement continues, adding that after completing the turn, the pilot was still unable to reach a suitable landing area and elected to "...stall into the trees." A witness to the accident reported, in part, that the pilot was demonstrating the airplane's takeoff performance off water. The witness stated he followed the airplane, on a jet ski, during its takeoff glide in an effort to mark the actual point of takeoff. A second witness, who was also on a jet ski, reported that shortly after becoming airborne, approximately 100 feet above ground level (AGL), the airplane "...began a very steep right turn." The witness stated that after entering the turn, the airplane pitched (nose down) and impacted terrain. Disassembly and examination of the cylinder assemblies and associated components revealed no evidence of a pre impact mechanical failure. Further examination of the crankcase and internal crankcase components revealed no evidence of oil starvation or internal component failure.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 37,000 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 5,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 20, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 21 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,620 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 612 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Sumner WA at 11:54 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.