Amateur-built NEMESIS accident near Camarillo, California, January 24, 2012
On January 24, 2012 at about 11:52 pm local time, a 2010 amateur-built NEMESIS, registered FWNXT, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Camarillo, California (Camarillo Airport). It was a flight test 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
A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight due to incorrectly installed airframe components, which came into contact with a high pressure fuel line and resulted in its failure. Contributing to the accident was an undetermined failure of the primary landing gear extension system that could not be identified due to extensive damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 2012 · about 11:52 pm local time
- Place
- Camarillo, California · Camarillo Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built NEMESIS NXT, built 2010
- Registration
- FWNXT · no longer on the register · serial 10
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a series of performance tests at cruise altitude, the engine of the experimental amateur-built airplane began to vibrate and lose partial power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot initiated a return to the departure airport. During the landing approach, he was unable to extend the landing gear with either the primary or backup systems. He attempted to perform a go-around; however, the airplane would not climb and he instead performed a forced landing into an adjacent field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage and both wings during the accident sequence, precluding a determination of the failure mode of the primary landing gear extension system. While the pilot reported that the backup system did not operate because he failed to positively disconnect a circuit breaker required for the system's operation, the failure of the primary landing system was not evident until late in the accident sequence and a go-around was not feasible. Examination of the engine revealed that the high pressure fuel injection lines had been in contact with airframe components, contrary to recommendations in the manufacturer's maintenance manual. This contact increased the stress on one of the lines, causing fatigue cracks to develop, which ultimately led to its failure and loss of fuel flow into one of the engine cylinders.
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 (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during emergency descent
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, foreign licence
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,015 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,900 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 75 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 2011; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,755 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Sma SR305-230 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMA Camarillo CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: CMA Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 6,013 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from CMA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.