# NTSB ERA27LA042: Piper PA-32R-301, N226DT, Easton, MD, November 7, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: November 7, 2026, 11:19 local (16:19 UTC)
- Place: Easton, MD · farm field
- Coordinates: 38.790291, -76.049132 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7903&lon=-76.0491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 204144
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA27LA042
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/204144/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA27LA042

## Preliminary report

On November 7, 2026, at 1119 eastern standard time, a Piper PA32R-301, N226DT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Easton, Maryland. The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The accident flight was the last leg of an instrument flight rules currency flight with the passenger acting as a safety pilot and the final leg being operated under visual flight rules. The pilot described the flight as uneventful until the airplane was on short final approach to land on runway 33 at Easton Airport (ESN), Easton, Maryland. When the airplane was about 500 to 600 ft above the ground, the engine “sputtered” and lost all power. The pilot switched fuel tanks with no effect, and then switched back. Unable to reach the airport, the pilot made a forced landing in a farm field. The airplane struck a tree during the landing, resulting in substantial damage to the right side horizontal stabilizer. The wreckage was recovered and retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103218), [All aircraft, 3,827 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103218), [All aircraft, 3,375 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103218), [All aircraft, 10,132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N226DT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N226DT), registered now, S/N 3246006, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-301
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301) (registry code 7103218) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3246006
- Year built: 1995
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alpha Tango LLC
- Registered owner: Alpha Tango LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CGS, College Park, MD
- Destination: ESN, Easton, MD
- Airport: ESN, Easton/Newnam Fld

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: ESN, 1 nm away
- METAR: SPECI KESN 071630Z 32013KT 10SM CLR 14/02 A2993

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, except the copies of manufacturers’ service documents, which belong to their rights holders.