Cessna 750 accident near San Diego, California, September 18, 2025
On September 18, 2025, a 2007 Cessna 750, registered N769XJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near San Diego, California (San Diego International Airpor airport). It was an other work-use flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 6 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2025 · cases in 2025
- Place
- San Diego, California · San Diego International Airpor · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 750, built 2007 · all 750s on the register
- Registration
- N769XJ · registry record · serial 750-0269
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 17, 2025, about 1742 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 750, N769XJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Diego, California. The two pilots and four passengers sustained no injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 commuter flight. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, he felt an intense vibration coming from the nosewheel as the airplane accelerated through 100 knots, so he elected to abort the takeoff. Subsequently, during the abort, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the nose of the airplane settled onto the runway. When the airplane came to a stop on the runway, the pilots executed an emergency shutdown and safely evacuated all occupants from the airplane. Post accident examination revealed that the airplane’s fuselage sustained substantial damage. The airplane was recovered and 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
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: Bell Air
The flight
- Destination: CMH Columbus OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 9,401 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from KSAN
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSAN 170151Z 32005KT 10SM FEW050 SCT150 BKN250 24/17 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP122 T02440167
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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
- N769XJ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 750 Citation X 288 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,685 aircraft on the register
- San Diego International · nearest airport
- John Glenn Columbus International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,098 in the last ten years
- California 27,713 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR25LA288.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.