Beech 35-B33 accident near Camarillo, California, April 9, 2011
On April 9, 2011 at about 8:24 pm local time, a Beech 35-B33, registered N460SR, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Camarillo, California (Camarillo Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power during the landing approach for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2011 · about 8:24 pm local time
- Place
- Camarillo, California · Camarillo Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-B33 · all 35-B33s on the register
- Registration
- N460SR · registry record · serial CD-761
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that, following an uneventful flight, the student pilot configured the airplane for landing with full flaps and the landing gear extended. When the student pilot attempted to stop the descent and level off by adding power, he noticed that the engine had lost power. The CFI took control of the airplane and began troubleshooting. The CFI’s attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, and he initiated a forced landing to a nearby field. However, due to the gusting wind that induced a high descent rate, the airplane landed short of the field on the flat roof of a storage facility, and a postcrash fire ensued. During postaccident interviews, the CFI reported that, during the flight, the student pilot switched fuel tanks multiple times, but he could not recall how many times or which fuel tank was selected. Examination of the recovered airframe revealed that the fuselage, inboard portion of the right wing, and the entire left wing were fire damaged. All the fuel tanks were compromised during the impact sequence. Examination of the recovered fuel injected engine revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 80 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,810 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,260 as pilot in command; 975 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 29, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,174 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCNO Chino CA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: KCMA Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 6,013 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from KCMA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.