Piper PA24-180 N7573P

Summary

On 11 March 2026 at about 20:10 local time, a Piper PA24-180 registered N7573P was involved in an accident near Leonardtown, Maryland, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 March 2026 at 20:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Leonardtown, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

St Mary's County Regional Airp (2W6)

Coordinates

38.3145, -76.5466

Aircraft

Piper PA24-180

Registration

N7573P

Category

Airplane

Year built

1961

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Accomack

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA26LA147

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control during a crosswind takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a drainage ditch.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.