Piper PA24-180 N7573P accident near Leonardtown, Maryland

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.

NTSB analysis

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.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA26LA147 for the full record.