Amateur-built THROP T-18 accident near Camarillo, California, January 6, 1990
On January 6, 1990 at about 9:04 pm local time, a amateur-built THROP T-18, registered N66MY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Camarillo, California (Camarillo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE LANDING IN A CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 1990 · about 9:04 pm local time
- Place
- Camarillo, California · Camarillo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built THROP T-18
- Registration
- N66MY · no longer on the register · serial 588D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A HOMEBUILT ATTEMPTED TO LAND INTO A CROSSWIND FROM 70 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS. WITNESSES SAID THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AND SKIDDED ABOUT 200 FEET BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH A VAS LIGHT AND FLIPPED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO MECHANICAL; MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROLS, BRAKES, OR ENGINE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 325 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 20, 1989; 40 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OCN Oceano CA at 8:15 pm
- Destination: CMA Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 6,010 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:07 pm from CMA
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.
Other NTSB records under N66MY the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.