PIPER PA-28-180

Full Narrative

On July 13, 2025, about 2128 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8375W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Needles, California. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The operator reported that the two pilots rented the airplane to accumulate flight hours. Preliminary ADS-B data provided by a commercially available third-party service showed the airplane depart North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), Las Vegas, Nevada, at 1934 and subsequently land at Needles Airport (EED), Needles, California about one hour later. The operator then received an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) alert about 2133. Local law-enforcement officers observed a fire at 2140 and subsequently located the main wreckage about 1,425 ft southwest from the departure end of runway 20.
The airplane came to rest inverted with thermal damage to the fuselage. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a ground scar about 225 ft north of the main wreckage, approximately 1,200 ft from the departure end of the runway. The debris path continued to the south with the propeller and hub assembly at the end of the debris path about 25 ft beyond the main wreckage. The total debris path spanned about 250 ft from the FIPC to the propeller. All major airplane components and control surfaces were located and identified within the debris path.
The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.