Amateur-built ELKINS 85 accident near Camarillo, California, October 25, 1987
On October 25, 1987 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built ELKINS 85, registered N72P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Camarillo, California (Camarillo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 1987 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Camarillo, California · Camarillo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ELKINS 85
- Registration
- N72P · no longer on the register · serial 104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE STARTING PROCEDURES FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT HAD CHOCKED THE WHEELS AND WAS HAND-PROPPING THE ENGINE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, THE ENGINE STARTED. THE AIRPLANE JUMPED THE CHOCKS AND THE PILOT MOVED TO THE RIGHT WING, ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED AROUND THE PLT AND COLLIDED WITH A HANGAR. THE PLT RECEIVED A FATAL HEAD INJURY WHEN THE ACFT WING KNOCKED HIM TO THE PAVEMENT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 347 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1987; 49 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.