Amateur-built CASSUTT M 11 accident near Castroville, California, March 12, 2023
On March 12, 2023 at about 10:05 pm local time, a 2003 amateur-built CASSUTT M 11, registered N55XJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Castroville, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A failure of the outboard trailing edge rib in the left wing, which resulted in a separation of the left aileron and a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 2023 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Castroville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CASSUTT M 11, built 2003
- Registration
- N55XJ · registry record · serial JDJ002C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing an aileron roll when the airplane suddenly entered an uncommanded high-g maneuver, and he lost control of the airplane. He was able to release his seat belt and parachute to the ground. The left wing and aileron separated from the airplane before impacting a muddy field. The mostly intact left aileron, attached torque tube, and both trailing edge ribs separated from the wing and the torque tube fractured from the bellcrank in the fuselage. The forward halves of the upper and lower flanges and the forward flange of the outboard trailing edge rib were separated cleanly from the wing consistent with an adhesive type failure at the interface between the carbon and adhesive. The aft halves of the upper and lower flanges of the outboard trailing edge rib were separated from the trailing edge skins with a cohesive type failure through the adhesive. The lower flange also had evidence of foam core material in the bond line. The available evidence suggests that the outboard trailing edge rib failed along the bond lines between the rib, rear spar, and trailing edge skins, which resulted in a loss of control when the left aileron separated from the wing and the left wing separated from the airplane.
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
- Aircraft structural failure during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Plates/skins (on wing) › Not specified
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Ribs/bulkheads (on wing) › Not specified
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Ribs/bulkheads (on wing) › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 17,600 hours in all; 54 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 4, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 767 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 2, 2022; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 8 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OAR Marina CA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 am from KOAR, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOAR 121255Z AUTO 12006KT 10SM BKN080 OVC110 11/11 A3006 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 7, 2024. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Structures Report | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 8 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.