Accident Overview
On February 15, 2026, at approximately 1805 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 210B, registration N9735X, was substantially damaged when it impacted a large tree and a fence before coming to rest on a gravel road adjacent to a water canal in a residential neighborhood near Camarillo, California. The accident occurred about 2-1/4 miles from the approach end of runway 26 at Camarillo Airport (CMA). The pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Sequence of Events
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) data, the pilot departed Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in 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, stating that he had lost engine power and requesting to land at CMA. The flight track then showed the airplane turning directly toward CMA as it began to descend. No further communications were received from the pilot.
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 spanned about 1,190 ft in length, on a directional heading of approximately 178°.
Damage and Recovery
The right outboard wing separated from the fuselage and was located in the impacted tree. The right wing strut was the farthest piece of debris, found at the bottom of the canal. During wreckage recovery, the left wing was removed from the fuselage, and about 20 gallons of fuel were drained from its tank. The right wing was breached near the wing root area, with a small amount of fuel observed. The wreckage was retained for further examination.