Piper PA-28-181 N8150J

Summary

On 17 August 2025 at about 00:37 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N8150J was involved in an accident near San Diego, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause has been published yet; this accident is still under investigation.

Date

17 August 2025 at 00:37

Classification

Accident

Location

San Diego, California, United States

Coordinates

32.8944, -117.2137

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N8150J

Category

Airplane

Year built

1980

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Diego → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25LA261

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. The investigation is still open; a final report usually follows one to two years after the accident.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.