What happened
On July 13, 2025, at approximately 21:28 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, registration N8375W, was involved in an accident near Needles, California. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal purposes, with the pilots renting the aircraft to accumulate flight hours.
According to preliminary ADS-B data, the aircraft departed North Las Vegas Airport (VGT) in Las Vegas, Nevada, at 19:34 and landed at Needles Airport (EED) approximately one hour later. Following the landing, an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) alert was received at 21:33. Local law enforcement arrived on the scene at 21:40, observing a fire and locating the primary wreckage approximately 1,425 feet southwest of the departure end of runway 20.
Both pilots sustained 2 fatal injuries.
The investigation
The aircraft came to rest in an inverted position with thermal damage to the fuselage. Investigators identified the first point of contact as a ground scar located roughly 225 feet north of the main wreckage and approximately 1,200 feet from the departure end of the runway. The debris path extended south for a total of about 250 feet, ending with the propeller and hub assembly approximately 25 feet beyond the main wreckage. All major components and control surfaces were recovered within this debris path. The aircraft was moved to a secure facility for further examination.