Gaithersburg Plane Crash and House Fire

On Monday, December 8 at approximately 10:43 AM, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue units were alerted for a house on fire due to a plane crash.  Incoming units arrived on the scene to find a plane that had crashed in the front yard of 19737 Drop Forge Lane and fire coming from the house located at 19733 Drop Forge Lane. 

Firefighters initiated simultaneous attacks on the fire and an initial search was conducted in 19733 for reports of possible people trapped inside.  Quickly deteriorating conditions, including compromised structural integrity, necessitated almost immediate evacuation of fire and rescue personnel from the home.  Exterior fire extinguishment efforts continued.

In addition, firefighters were simultaneously checking the downed plane and located three victims who were pronounced deceased on the scene.

Fire investigators arrived on the scene and assisted MCPD and NTSB with the investigation.  It was determined the house at 19733 caught fire as a result of the plane crash next door.  Two other houses received structural damage only as a result of the crash. 

After the fire was extinguished and the house was stabilized, a search resumed for the reported missing individuals in 19733.  All three were located together and removed. 

In total there were six fatalities:

Three occupants of 19733 Drop Forge Lane; a 36 year old female, a 3 year old male and a 7 week old male.

Three occupants of a Phenom 100 EMB-500 aircraft.

Physical damage estimates:

19733 Drop Forge Lane with damage estimate of approximately $400K 

19740 Drop Forge Lane received approximately $150K in structural damage; no fire, occupants escaped without injury 

19737 Drop Forge Lane (immediately next door) received approximately $50K in structural damage; no occupants were home at time 

Phenom 100 EMB-500 aircraft valued at $3.7M