Piper PA-28-180 accident near Needles, California, July 14, 2025
On July 14, 2025 at about 4:28 am local time, a 1965 Piper PA-28-180, registered N8375W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Needles, California (Needles 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
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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2025 · about 4:28 am local time
- Place
- Needles, California · Needles · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 NO SERIES, built 1965 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8375W · registry record · serial 28-2575
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 13, 2025, about 2128 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8375W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Needles, California. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The operator reported that the two pilots rented the airplane to accumulate flight hours. Preliminary ADS-B data provided by a commercially available third-party service showed the airplane depart North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), Las Vegas, Nevada, at 1934 and subsequently land at Needles Airport (EED), Needles, California about one hour later. The operator then received an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) alert about 2133. Local law-enforcement officers observed a fire at 2140 and subsequently located the main wreckage about 1,425 ft southwest from the departure end of runway 20. The airplane came to rest inverted with thermal damage to the fuselage. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a ground scar about 225 ft north of the main wreckage, approximately 1,200 ft from the departure end of the runway. The debris path continued to the south with the propeller and hub assembly at the end of the debris path about 25 ft beyond the main wreckage. The total debris path spanned about 250 ft from the FIPC to the propeller. All major airplane components and control surfaces were located and identified within the debris path. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility 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
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,491.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 4, 2025
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: EED Las Vegas NV
- Runway 02/2, 4,235 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from KEED
Weather report (METAR): KEED 140356Z AUTO 21011KT 10SM CLR 41/14 A2977 RMK AO2 SLP037 T04110139
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
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.