# NTSB WPR25LA261: Piper PA-28-181, N8150J, San Diego, CA, August 17, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 16, 2025, 17:37 local (Aug 17, 2025, 00:37 UTC)
- Place: San Diego, CA · I-805
- Coordinates: 32.894354, -117.21372 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8944&lon=-117.2137&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200869
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA261
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200869/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA261

## Preliminary report

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.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8150J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8150J), registered now, S/N 28-8090229, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8090229
- Year built: 1980
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KMYF, San Diego, CA

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KMYF, 7 nm away
- METAR: METAR KMYF 162353Z 21007KT 10SM CLR 21/14 A2999

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250816017039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250816017039A), Aug 16, 2025: Piper PA-28-181, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. 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…

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.

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