Piper PA-28-181 accident near Bowie, Maryland, June 21, 2026
On June 21, 2026 at about 3:28 am local time, a 1976 Piper PA-28-181, registered N249WF, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Bowie, Maryland (Freeway airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2026 · about 3:28 am local time
- Place
- Bowie, Maryland · Freeway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181, built 1976 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N249WF · registry record · serial 28-7690114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 20, 2026, about 2328 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N249WF, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bowie, Maryland. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed Montgomery County Airpark (GAI), Gaithersburg, Maryland, about 1630 and flew to Ocean City Municipal Airport (26N), Ocean City, New Jersey, where it landed about 1741. The airplane later departed 26N about 2128 and conducted three touch-and-go landings before landing again about 2144. It subsequently departed about 2210 for the return flight to GAI. ADS-B data indicated that after climbing to a cruise altitude of about 8,500 ft msl, the airplane proceeded west-southwest. About 40 miles into the flight, the airplane began a gradual descent to an altitude of 2,000 ft msl, where it remained until about 2326. The airplane then continued descending while maneuvering left and right before radar and ADS-B data were lost. While receiving flight-following services, the pilot transmitted a partially unintelligible radio call, stating that he was near Fort Meade. The pilot subsequently selected transponder code 7700, and when asked by ATC if he needed assistance, he stated that he wanted to proceed to Freeway Airport (W00), Bowie, Maryland. ATC gave radar vectors to Freeway Airport and asked if he had the airport in sight. The pilot’s last transmission was that he did not have the airport in sight. No further radio transmissions were received, and radar contact was lost. The airplane came to rest in a heavily wooded area. Initial examination of the accident site revealed that both wings had separated from the fuselage and revealed impact damage on the leading edge of the wings. Broken tree branches were strewn throughout the wreckage path. The engine remained attached to the fuselage and exhibited impact damage. The cockpit was crushed aft, and the instrument panel sustained impact damage. The vertical stabilizer and rudder remained attached to the empennage. The right side of the horizontal stabilizer had separated from the empennage and was located aft of the fuselage. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fuel related during enroute (descent) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,695.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 19, 2026; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Wifa (Washington International Flight Academy) LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 26N Ocean City NJ at 1:10 am
- Destination: GAI Gaithersburg MD
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from KCGS, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCGS 210335Z AUTO 29004KT 10SM CLR 25/11 A2989
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.