Cessna 182N accident near Fallbrook, California, September 23, 2025
On September 23, 2025 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1970 Cessna 182N, registered N766EE, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Fallbrook, California (Fallbrook Community Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- September 23, 2025 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fallbrook, California · Fallbrook Community Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182N, built 1970 · all 182Ns on the register
- Registration
- N766EE · registry record · serial 18260217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 23, 2025, about 1400 Pacific daylight time, N766EE, a Cessna 182N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fallbrook, California. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he purchased fuel at French Valley Airport (F70), Murrieta, California (F70), and departed about 1353. After takeoff, he flew southbound, toward Fallbrook Community Airpark (L18), Fallbrook, California, and flew a straight in approach to runway 18. As the airplane was less than one mile from runway 18, he attempted to increase engine power using the throttle, however, the engine power remained the same. He advanced the throttle position a second time and turned off the carburetor heat, with no change in engine power. The pilot realized that the airplane was too low to reach the runway and initiated an emergency landing on a divided highway, with partial engine power. The airplane landed on the southbound lanes and during the landing roll, the left wing impacted a tree, along the center divider. Subsequently, the airplane veered left, exited the roadway, nosed over, and came to rest inverted, on an embankment adjacent to the northbound lanes of the roadway. Postaccident examination revealed that the fuselage, both wings, and empennage sustained substantial damage. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location 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
- Off-field or emergency landing during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: F70 Murrieta CA at 8:50 pm
- Destination: L18 Fallbrook CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 2,150 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from KNFG, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KNFG 232052Z 20009KT 10SM SCT120 28/18 A2981
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.