ERA26FA243

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.