Cessna 305A accident near Camarillo, California, February 2, 2013
On February 2, 2013 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 305A, registered N342FS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Camarillo, 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 tailwheel vibration upon touchdown and the subsequent loss of directional control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 2013 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Camarillo, California · Camarillo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305A · all 305As on the register
- Registration
- N342FS · registry record · serial 21831
- 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, following an uneventful flight, the three-point landing was normal in minimal wind. Immediately upon touchdown, the pilot felt an extreme tailwheel vibration, and the airplane abruptly made a sharp left turn. The airplane then veered off the runway, and the right main landing gear collapsed. Postaccident examination revealed that the right rudder control cables, which extend from the rudder pedals at both the front and rear seats to the rudder control horn, had separated from the rudder pedals. No evidence of preexisting defects, such as corrosion or fatigue, was found; the rudder cables likely fractured due to overstress during the accident sequence and did not cause the loss of directional control. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the tailwheel vibration on touchdown and the subsequent loss of control could not be determined.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 24,950 hours in all; 3 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 19, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 618 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 565 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 19, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,442 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 12, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470-11B (piston); 545 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMA Camarillo CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: CMA Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 26, 6,013 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 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.