Cessna A185F accident near Cambria, California, September 9, 2012
On September 9, 2012 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N80SS, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Cambria, California (Camarillo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane sank in the ocean and was not recovered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2012 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cambria, California · Camarillo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N80SS · no longer on the register · serial 18504041
- 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 in cruise flight over the ocean in the float-equipped airplane, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilot subsequently made a forced landing on the water. After the pilot and his son were rescued, the airplane sank, and the wreckage was not recovered. Although the pilot reported that there might have been a problem with the turbocharger wastegate, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined because the airplane sank.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 24,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aircapital Nevada INC
The flight
- Departed from: CMA Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from PRB, 40 miles away
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.