A Mooney M20 nearly clipped several cars as it crashed into trees right next to Route 50 in Bowie, Maryland, according to witnesses.
The accident occurred around 3:45 p.m. on Labor Day afternoon, typically one of the busiest traffic days of the year. A number of drivers pulled over to assist those aboard the downed airplane. All three individuals in the Mooney sustained serious injuries, and two had to be extracted from the airplane at the crash site.
One witness reported seeing the airplane alternatively descend and climb immediately before the crash. According to some reports, the airplane was so low it could have clipped a semi-truck had one been driving in the M20’s path.
Authorities closed down all lanes of Route 50 to allow those involved in the accident to be transported from the scene via air ambulance.
It is not yet clear what caused the airplane to crash after takeoff in VFR conditions from Freeway Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.
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