Piper PA24-180 accident near Leonardtown, Maryland, March 11, 2026
On March 11, 2026 at about 8:10 pm local time, a 1961 Piper PA24-180, registered N7573P, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Leonardtown, Maryland (St Mary'S County Regional Airp airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control during a crosswind takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a drainage ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 2026 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Leonardtown, Maryland · St Mary'S County Regional Airp · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24-180 NO SERIES, built 1961 · all PA24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7573P · registry record · serial 24-2783
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing in wind conditions that included a 90-degree left crosswind at a reported velocity of 9 knots and gusts up to 19 knots. The pilot stated that the airplane veered left as soon as the wheels lifted off the ground and that his control inputs were ineffective at correcting the airplane’s heading. The pilot reduced engine power and landed on the grass adjacent to the runway, where the airplane impacted a drainage ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the flight controls and landing gear by maintenance personnel revealed that there was no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, nor did the pilot report any.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,835 hours in all; 398 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 1,753 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 17, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,603.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 2,191 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MVF Accomack VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,350 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from NHK, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KNHK 111952Z 20009G19KT 10SM FEW100 FEW200 29/16 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP087 T02940161 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 9, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photograph | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Mechanic Statement | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7573P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.