20260718009399A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-161 · San Bernardino, CA · July 18, 2026

Date: July 18, 2026 · 15:42 local
Place: San Bernardino, CA
Airport: San Bernardino International
Phase of flight: Taxi
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8249B
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR26LA269
Reported as: Piper PA-28-161
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 537 total

N8249BRegistered now · Piper PA-28-161S/N 28-8116008 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-161 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Owner/pilot of privacy data omitted was preparing to depart from San Bernardino International Airport (sbd) to whiteman airport (whp). While entering the run-up area, twy alpha, the RH MLG collapsed and penetrated through the wing upper skin. When the FAA iic arrived at the aircraft, it had already been relocated to the apron. This accident report may require an amendment after the NTSB findings report is published.

As the FAA filed it

OWNER/PILOT OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS PREPARING TO DEPART FROM SAN BERNARDINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SBD) TO WHITEMAN AIRPORT (WHP). WHILE ENTERING THE RUN-UP AREA, TWY ALPHA, THE RH MLG COLLAPSED AND PENETRATED THROUGH THE WING UPPER SKIN. WHEN THE FAA IIC ARRIVED AT THE AIRCRAFT, IT HAD ALREADY BEEN RELOCATED TO THE APRON. THIS ACCIDENT REPORT MAY REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT AFTER THE NTSB FINDINGS REPORT IS PUBLISHED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR26LA269Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportSan Bernardino, CAOn 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…Jul 18, 2026 · Substantial damage