# NTSB ERA26FA243: Piper PA-28-181, N249WF, Bowie, MD, June 21, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: June 20, 2026, 23:28 local (Jun 21, 2026, 03:28 UTC) - Place: Bowie, MD · Wooded Area - Coordinates: 38.979556, -76.731752 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9796&lon=-76.7318&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Lycoming Engines, FAA/FSDO, Piper - NTSB case key (mKey): 203205 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26FA243 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203205/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA243 ## Preliminary report 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. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N249WF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N249WF), registered now, S/N 28-7690114, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7690114 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 13695.6 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wifa (Washington International Flight Academy) LLC - Registered owner: Wifa (Washington International Flight Academy) LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 19, 2026, 4 hours before - Departed: 26N, Ocean City, NJ - Destination: GAI, Gaithersburg, MD - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: W00, Freeway - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 290° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KCGS, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KCGS 210335Z AUTO 29004KT 10SM CLR 25/11 A2989 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20260620011489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260620011489A), Jun 20, 2026: Piper PA-28-181, Bowie, MD, Substantial damage, 3 fatal. Narrative of flight: On June 20, 2026, at approximately 16:30 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 departed montgomery county airpark (gai) in gaithersburg, Maryland,… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.