The Piper PA-22-150 went down on a remote desert hillside Tuesday morning, and federal investigators are examining the crash.
OCOTILLO WELLS, CA — A pilot was killed Tuesday morning when a light airplane crashed into a remote hillside near Ocotillo Wells in eastern San Diego County, authorities said.
The Piper PA-22-150 went down shortly before 9:30 a.m. Nov. 3 near Blowsand Hill, an area close to state Route 78 and the Imperial County line. The pilot was the only person aboard the aircraft, according to authorities. The pilot’s identity had not been publicly released Tuesday evening.
Initial reports provided to emergency crews described an aircraft striking a hill and catching fire. Cal Fire responded to the desert area, while California State Parks personnel also headed toward the crash site. The rugged terrain made reaching the wreckage difficult and required crews to approach the site on foot.
A San Diego County sheriff’s helicopter located the wreckage on Blowsand Hill, according to information released by authorities and reported by City News Service. Cal Fire crews later hiked to the site and found the pilot dead. No other occupants were reported aboard the airplane.
Early in the response, officials had limited information about the aircraft and whether anyone needed rescue. Cal Fire initially confirmed only that an aircraft had gone down at the hill. As crews reached the area and examined the wreckage, authorities determined that the aircraft was a light plane and that the crash was fatal.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Piper PA-22-150, a single-engine airplane. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating the Nov. 3 crash near Ocotillo Wells. Investigators had not announced a probable cause or released findings explaining why the airplane went down.
Federal aviation investigations commonly begin with gathering information about the aircraft, flight, weather, pilot and wreckage. Any early information is preliminary, and a final determination of the cause can come later after investigators review the available evidence. Authorities had not publicly identified a mechanical problem, weather condition or other factor as the cause of Tuesday’s crash.
The crash occurred in a sparsely populated desert area east of the main San Diego metropolitan region. Blowsand Hill is within the broader Ocotillo Wells area, where steep and sandy terrain can complicate access for emergency vehicles. Responding crews relied on aircraft and ground teams to locate and reach the wreckage.
The NTSB investigation remained underway Tuesday. Authorities had not released additional information about the pilot or the circumstances leading up to the impact, and no preliminary finding on the cause had been announced.
Author note: Last updated November 3, 2026.