Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 210B near Camarillo, CA — 2026-02-16

Investigation ongoingWPR26FA103
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Date
2026-02-16
Location
Camarillo, CA, USA
Airport
CMA
Aircraft
CESSNA 210B
Registration
N9735X
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On February 15, 2026, about 1805 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 210B, N9735X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Camarillo, California. The pilot was fatally injured and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A review of FAA ADS-B data revealed that the pilot departed Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada at 1623. The airplane flew southwest and maintained an altitude of about 8,500 ft mean sea level (msl). While approaching Camarillo, California, the pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control and requested to land at Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California after he lost engine power. According to the flight track, the airplane then turned direct to CMA as the airplane began to descend. No further communications were received by the pilot. The airplane impacted a large tree and a fence before it came to rest on a water canal access gravel road in a residential neighborhood about 2-1/4 mile from the approach end of runway 26 at CMA. The accident site was at an elevation of 133 ft msl and on a magnetic heading of 58° from the approach end of runway 26. The debris field was about 1,190 ft long and on a directional heading of about 178°. The right outboard wing separated and was located in the impacted tree. The right wing strut was the furthest in the debris field and was found in the bottom of the canal. During the recovery of the wreckage, the left wing was removed from the fuselage and about 20 gallons of fuel was removed from the tank. The right wing was breached near the wing root area and a small amount of fuel was noted. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (total) · Enroute
  • Engine Failure Enroute
View NTSB preliminary report

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