Cessna 210B accident near Camarillo, California, February 16, 2026
On February 16, 2026 at about 2:05 am local time, a 1962 Cessna 210B, registered N9735X, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Camarillo, California (Camarillo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2026 · about 2:05 am local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Camarillo, California · Camarillo · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210B, built 1962 · all 210Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9735X · registry record · serial 21058035
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 15, 2026, about 1805 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 210B, N9735X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Camarillo, California. The pilot was fatally injured and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A review of FAA ADS-B data revealed that the pilot departed Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada at 1623. The airplane flew southwest and maintained an altitude of about 8,500 ft mean sea level (msl). While approaching Camarillo, California, the pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control and requested to land at Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California after he lost engine power. According to the flight track, the airplane then turned direct to CMA as the airplane began to descend. No further communications were received by the pilot. The airplane impacted a large tree and a fence before it came to rest on a water canal access gravel road in a residential neighborhood about 2-1/4 mile from the approach end of runway 26 at CMA. The accident site was at an elevation of 133 ft msl and on a magnetic heading of 58° from the approach end of runway 26. The debris field was about 1,190 ft long and on a directional heading of about 178°. The right outboard wing separated and was located in the impacted tree. The right wing strut was the furthest in the debris field and was found in the bottom of the canal. During the recovery of the wreckage, the left wing was removed from the fuselage and about 20 gallons of fuel was removed from the tank. The right wing was breached near the wing root area and a small amount of fuel was noted. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
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 enroute defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during emergency descent
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,261.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 2025; 7.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Destination: OXR Oxnard CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08/2, 6,013 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,900 ft; clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from KCMA, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCMA 160155Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC049 14/10 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP145 T01440100
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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9735X on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 210 Centurion 1,525 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,678 aircraft on the register
- Camarillo Airport · nearest airport
- Harry Reid International · departed from
- Oxnard Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,279 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26FA103.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.