# Accident 20260311001819A: Piper PA-24-180, Leonardtown, MD, March 11, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 11, 2026, 16:10 local time
- Place: Leonardtown, MD
- Airport: St. Mary'S County Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.3145° N, 76.5466° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3145&lon=-76.5466&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7573P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7573P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-180 (registry code 7102403, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-180
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,834 total, 394 in this make and model, 53 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA147) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260311001819A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

MR. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A PRIVATE PILOT WITH INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE ATTEMPTED TO DEPART ST. MARY'S REGIONAL ON RUNWAY 29, , ON 03/11/2026. THE RUNWAY WAS DRY AND VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED. HE WAS PILOTING HIS PIPER COMANCHE, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE WINDS WERE A DIRECT CROSSWIND 200 AT 9 GUSTING TO 19. AS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS ROTATING A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE PLANE AND THE PLANE WEATHER VEINED INTO THE WIND. THE PLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND DEPARTED FROM RUNWAY 29 INTO THE GRASS. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ABOUT 50 YARDS OFF OF RUNWAY 29 IN A DITCH. THE IMPACT WAS SUCH THAT IT CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND HIS PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE OPERATIONAL FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PILOT ERROR. OPERATIONAL FACTORS INCLUDED LOSS OF CONTROL AND WEATHER: CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA26LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA147), Mar 11, 2026: Piper PA24-180 (N7573P), Leonardtown, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control during a crosswind takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a drainage ditch.

## Other reports on N7573P (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20040829026939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040829026939A), Aug 29, 2004: Piper PA24180 (N7573P), Ocean City, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) On departure from runway 24 at Ocean City Municipal Airport, the aircraft broke ground and veered to the left and struck a wind tee, located between the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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