LEONARDTOWN, Md. (July 30, 2013)—On Monday, July 29, at approximately 7:35 pm, a 1979 Mooney Model M20J, fixed wing, single engine airplane, tail number N4570H crashed in the Leonardtown area. Maryland State Police Helicopter, Trooper 7, located the plane and was able to direct members of the Maryland State Police, Leonardtown Barrack and other emergency response personnel to the scene.
Members of the Maryland State Police, Criminal Enforcement Division responded to the scene and continued with the investigation.
Preliminary Investigation revealed, pilot, James Reining, 46, of Mechanicsville, and co-pilot, Patrick Leard, 52, of Leonardtown, began experiencing mechanical problems nearly thirty minutes after departing from the St. Mary's County Regional Airport located in Hollywood. The operators were forced to make an emergency landing in a nearby cornfield causing extensive damage to the plane. Both the pilot and co-pilot sustained minor injuries during the crash and were treated while on the scene and refused to be transported to the St. Mary's County Hospital Emergency Room for further treatment.
On Tuesday at 9:00 am, the investigation was turned over to Bill Burgman of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Steven Stein of National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for further review.
Source: MSP Leonardtown Barrack