20030828023069A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtr FLYING BOAT · Tracy, CA · August 28, 2003

Date: August 28, 2003 · 08:00 local
Place: Tracy, CA
Airport: Tracy Municipal Airport
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N1216Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX03LA267
Reported as: Amtr Flyingboat
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1

N1216ZRegistration cancelled Apr 2, 2004 · Petz Dave FLYING BOATS/N 0002 Airframe modelPetz Dave FLYING BOAT Engine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On August 28, 2003 at approximately 0800 Mr. Petz departed Tracy airport north bound and climbed in altitude to approximately 150 ft. at this time the aircraft circled to the left and appeared to be attempting to return to the airport. On the base leg of his approach he appeared to be in a level attitude. Upon entering his base to final leg the aircraft banked left to approximately 45 degrees and began to lose altitude. The aircraft entered an open air gravel pit and impacted into the wall of the pit. The aircraft was destroyed as a result of the impact and subsequent fire. One fatality.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON AUGUST 28, 2003 AT APPROXIMATELY 0800 MR. PETZ DEPARTED TRACY AIRPORT NORTH BOUND AND CLIMBED IN ALTITUDE TO APPROXIMATELY 150 FT. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT CIRCLED TO THE LEFT AND APPEARED TO BE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. ON THE BASE LEG OF HIS APPROACH HE APPEARED TO BE IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. UPON ENTERING HIS BASE TO FINAL LEG THE AIRCRAFT BANKED LEFT TO APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES AND BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN OPEN AIR GRAVEL PIT AND IMPACTED INTO THE WALL OF THE PIT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE. ONE FATALITY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX03LA267Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportTracy, CAThe 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…Aug 28, 2003 · Destroyed