Camarillo Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cambria, California 93428
Sunday, September 9, 2012 15:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight over the ocean in the float-equipped airplane, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilot subsequently made a forced landing on the water. After the pilot and his son were rescued, the airplane sank, and the wreckage was not recovered. Although the pilot reported that there might have been a problem with the turbocharger wastegate, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined because the airplane sank.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane sank in the ocean and was not recovered.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/9/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Cambria
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93428
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 354408N
Event Location Longitude 1212015W
Event Location Airport CAMARILLO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CMA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 143
Degrees magnetic from airport 310
Airport Elevation 77
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 75
Weather Observation Facility ID PRB
Elevation of weather observation facility 93446
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 36
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.83
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33401
NTSB Notification Source FAA AWP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 29 2014 11:24AM
User who most recently changed record eckd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N80SS
NTSB Number WPR12LA411
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model A185F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18504041
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name AIRCAPITAL NEVADA INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City CARSON CITY
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89703-4103
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name AIRCAPITAL NEVADA INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City CARSON CITY
Operator State NV
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 89703-4103
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CMA
Departure City CAMARILLO
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 29 2014 12:23PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --