Amateur-built Propjet accident near Camarillo, California, September 2, 2008
On September 2, 2008 at about 11:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Propjet, registered N750PJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Camarillo, California (Camarillo Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to air within the fuel system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2008 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Camarillo, California · Camarillo Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Propjet
- Registration
- N750PJ · registry record · serial LIV565
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while transitioning from climb to cruise, the engine lost power with no engine sounds or instrument indications of a pending engine failure. The pilot noted white smoke emanating from the exhaust stacks as he began a 180-degree turn back towards the runway. He stated that overrun barriers were on the runway and that he had to maintain a faster airspeed in order to clear the runway overrun barriers before he could land the airplane. After clearing the overrun barriers, he landed the airplane and applied maximum braking in an attempt to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. During the landing rollout, the airplane exited the runway, struck a pile of dirt and flipped over, causing structural damage to the left wing, rudder, and vertical stabilizer. Examination of the aircraft indicated a significant amount of air bubbles in the fuel system, but no further engine anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel related during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,296 hours in all; 888 in this make and model; 12,958 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 3, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 4, 2007; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Diemech Walter 601D (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCMA Camarillo CA at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 6,013 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from KCMA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.