Piper PA-28-161 accident near San Bernardino, California, July 18, 2026
On July 18, 2026 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8249B, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near San Bernardino, California (San Bernardino Intl airport). 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
- July 18, 2026 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Bernardino, California · San Bernardino Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8249B · registry record · serial 28-8116008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 18, 2026, about 1530 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8249B, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near San Bernardino, California. The pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that while taxiing to the run-up area in preparation for takeoff at San Bernardino International Airport (SBD), San Bernadino, California, the airplane’s right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the taxiway surface. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing was substantially damaged. The airplane was recovered 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 taxi defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Destination: WHP Los Angeles CA
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from KSBD
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSBD 182155Z 25007G15KT 10SM CLR 37/07 A2994
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.