Piper PA-28-181 accident near San Diego, California, August 17, 2025
On August 17, 2025, a 1980 Piper PA-28-181, registered N8150J, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near San Diego, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- August 17, 2025
- Place
- San Diego, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181, built 1980 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8150J · registry record · serial 28-8090229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 16, 2025, about 1737 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8150J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near San Diego, California. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he and a passenger had planned a local personal flight and departed Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF), San Diego, California, with full fuel. The airplane flew north along the coastline and about 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot switched fuel tanks. He did not recall whether he clearly felt the valve’s position detents when adjusting the fuel tank selector valve handle. Several minutes after switching fuel tanks, while at an altitude of 1,700 ft mean sea level, the engine began to sputter and lost partial power. The pilot declared an emergency with Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control and troubleshot the loss of engine power by turning the fuel pump on, switching fuel tanks, and checking the ignition, however, the engine continued to sputter. The pilot initiated a forced landing to the southbound lanes of Interstate 805. During the landing roll, the left wing struck a highway sign post and the airplane came to rest upright against the center highway divider. The left wing, fuselage, and horizontal stabilator sustained substantial damage. The wreckage 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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: KMYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KMYF, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMYF 162353Z 21007KT 10SM CLR 21/14 A2999
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.
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.