Tragic Plane Crash in Maryland Claims Three Lives

WHO:

WTOP - Three adults were on board the single-engine plane that crashed.

ABC News - The three individuals killed were men.

WTOP - Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo provided information regarding the crash.

WHAT:

WTOP - A single-engine Piper Cherokee crashed, resulting in the deaths of three people.

ABC News - The plane crash occurred in Bowie, Maryland.

WTOP - The plane was en route from Ocean City, New Jersey, to Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg.

WTOP - The crash was reported at 11:53 p.m. via an “iPhone crash alert.”

WTOP - The aircraft was located around 3:45 a.m. in a wooded area near a residential neighborhood.

WTOP - Debris from the crash was spread over approximately 100 feet in a wooded area.

WHERE:

WTOP - The crash occurred near a residential neighborhood in Bowie, Maryland.

WTOP - The plane crashed close to a townhome community and a public park off of Scarlet Oak Terrace.

NY Post - The crash site is less than 20 miles from Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

WTOP - The plane crashed around 11:30 p.m. on a Saturday night.

WTOP - The crash was reported at 11:53 p.m.

WTOP - The aircraft was located at approximately 3:45 a.m.

WHY:

WTOP - Police believe the plane was possibly participating in a training flight and may belong to a local flight school.

HOW:

WTOP - Multiple local agencies, including the Prince George’s County Fire Department and Maryland State Police, responded to the crash.

WTOP - The NTSB and FAA will lead the investigation into the crash, examining the aircraft, pilot, and circumstances surrounding the flight.

(UPDATED June 22, 2026 03:30 UTC)

A single-engine Piper Cherokee crashed in Bowie, Maryland, resulting in the tragic deaths of three men who were on board. The plane was reportedly en route from Ocean City, New Jersey, to Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg and may have been participating in a training flight linked to a local flight school. Multiple local agencies responded to the scene, and the NTSB and FAA will conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.