Amateur-built VARIEZE accident near Santa Paula, California, May 28, 2016
On May 28, 2016 at about 10:15 pm local time, a 1980 amateur-built VARIEZE, registered N80681, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Santa Paula, California (Santa Paula airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to fatigue failure of the camshaft drive gear teeth.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2016 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Paula, California · Santa Paula · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARIEZE NO SERIES, built 1980
- Registration
- N80681 · no longer on the register · serial 1424
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot and a passenger departed on a local area flight; shortly after takeoff, the engine experienced a total loss of power. To the northwest of the accident site was an open field and a road; both were available to use for landing but presented challenges. The field had been recently plowed and there was auto traffic on the road. It was likely that the pilot was attempting to land on the road but struck power lines during the descent. The airplane came to rest in a lemon orchard and was subsequently consumed by a postcrash fire. Visual examination of the engine revealed thermal damage. The engine crankcase was disassembled; the main bearings on the left crankcase half were dark in color and exhibited pitting. The camshaft drive gear cluster displayed nine broken teeth, most of which were found in the oil sump. Metallurgical examination revealed that three of the camshaft drive gear teeth failed in fatigue, which subsequently resulted in the overstress failure of the other six teeth. The fatigue initiated at sharp corners formed during hand-grinding of the forward faces of the teeth while dressing the edges and removing burrs from the teeth during manufacture. Airplane logbook entries revealed that the engine was assembled by a third party and installed new on the airframe about 13 years before the accident.
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 maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 21, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 1, 2016
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200X (piston); 324 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SZP Santa Paula CA at 10:10 pm
- Destination: SZP Santa Paula CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,400 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from KSZP, 4 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
13 documents, released by the NTSB on April 27, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 17-019 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Wreckage Diagram (Google Earth) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement (Deas) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Statement (O'brien) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | NTSB Exam Report | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Excerpt Aircraft Records | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Excerpt Ventura County Sheriff's Department Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Invoice for Cmi Crankcase | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Fuel Receipt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Receipt of Returned Parts Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Receipt of Returned Parts Form | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.