NTSB Factual Report

On March 25, 2002, at 1040 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172R, N2630U, nosed over after veering off the runway during landing at the Camarillo, California, airport. The student-certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The instructional flight, operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by South Bay Aviation, originated at Torrance, California, at 1005. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot filed a VFR flight plan but did not activate the flight plan after departure from Torrance.

The student pilot reported that he was en route from Torrance to Santa Barbara, California, on a solo cross-country flight with a planned intermediate stop at Camarillo. On his first approach to runway 26 at Camarillo, he was uncomfortable with the approach and turbulence and made a go-around. On the second approach he made a normal landing, near the centerline. During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right toward the runway edge, and he believed it was better to bring the airplane to a stop instead of initiating a go-around. The airplane left the runway edge and went into a gravel area where the pilot continued braking; however, the gravel ended and the airplane went into a plowed agricultural field where the nosewheel dug in and the airplane nosed over.

The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control.