Cessna 172S accident near Camarillo, California, May 15, 2003
On May 15, 2003 at about 10:51 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N585TM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Camarillo, California (Camarillo Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control, resulting in a collision with terrain. The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight and delayed remedial action were also causal.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2003 · about 10:51 pm local time
- Place
- Camarillo, California · Camarillo Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N585TM · registry record · serial 172S8515
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with terrain while on the takeoff roll. The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane drifted right of centerline. He advised the student pilot to release pressure from the right rudder pedal. The airplane moved left of the centerline, and the CFI instructed the student to increase right rudder pressure. The airplane continued to the left and the CFI took control of the airplane. He pulled the throttle to the idle position and applied full right rudder pressure in an effort to stay on the runway. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway, and he added full power. The airplane became airborne and, despite full right rudder, continued a left yaw. Unable to gain altitude, the airplane impacted the dirt infield. It came to rest with the nose about 180 degrees from runway heading. The CFI had about 70 hours of flight instruction time, and the student pilot had about 4 hours of dual instruction. The CFI did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector interviewed the CFI. He established that prior to the accident, the student pilot was given an overly comprehensive brief and became overwhelmed during takeoff. After losing control, the CFI waited too late to effectively take remedial action and recover the airplane.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 440 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command; 70 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 4 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,261 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 5, 2003; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming I0-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCMA Camarillo CA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 6,010 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from CMA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.