# Accident 20250816017039A: Piper PA-28-181, San Diego, CA, August 16, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 16, 2025, 17:35 local time
- Place: San Diego, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8944° N, 117.2137° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8944&lon=-117.2137&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8150J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8150J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-181 (registry code 7102807, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-A4M
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 242 total, 158 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA261) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250816017039A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON AUGUST 16, 2025, ABOUT 1737 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-28-181, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, 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 NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR25LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA261), Aug 17, 2025: Piper PA-28-181 (N8150J), San Diego, CA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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