Baltimore/washington Intl Thurgood Marshall — Safety History & Runway Risks
NTSB accident analysis for KBWI: 13 events analyzed
Baltimore, MD · 143.4 ft MSL · 3 runways
Based on 13 NTSB events at KBWI (Baltimore/washington Intl Thurgood Marshall), the most important risks for pilots are:
- Night operations and reduced situational awareness. Seven of 13 events (54%) occurred at night, including a Cessna 208 that struck approach lights during an ILS approach in IMC (Feb 2020), a Gulfstream G150 landing overrun (Jan 2012), and a Piper PA-31 structural failure on a night IFR arrival (Feb 2011). Night operations at a busy Class B airport demand heightened vigilance.
- Ground vehicle conflicts and ramp/taxiway hazards. Three events involved ground vehicles failing to yield to aircraft: a maintenance truck struck a Southwest 737 at the gate (May 2018), a ground service vehicle forced a Cessna 208B pilot to use reverse thrust causing a tail strike (Feb 2015), and a tug caused nose gear failure during 737 pushback (Aug 2016). GA pilots should never assume vehicles will stop.
- Pre-takeoff checklist failures. Two events are directly attributable to incomplete pre-departure checks: a Cessna 441 departed runway 33R during an aborted takeoff because the pilot attempted takeoff with a propeller start lock engaged (Aug 2008), and an IAI Westwind Astra crew failed to verify the cabin door locking pin, causing the door to open in flight (Jul 2015). Both were preventable with thorough checklists.
Source: NTSB accident records analyzed by Tropiq. Updated 4/14/2026.
Safety History
13 eventsKBWI has recorded 13 NTSB events from 2008–2024, with zero fatalities across all events and only one serious injury (2009). The majority of events involve airline or commercial operators rather than general aviation aircraft, but several GA-relevant patterns emerge around night operations, ground maneuvering, and pre-takeoff checks. Activity has been very low recently, with only one event in the past five years (a 2024 Piper PA-32 engine-related accident in the traffic pattern).
Across 16 years, KBWI recorded 13 events with zero fatalities and only one serious injury, a notably safe record for a busy Class B airport. Events cluster in the 2008–2020 period with a noticeable lull since 2021.
- •No fatal accidents in the entire 2008–2024 dataset
- •54% of events occurred at night despite night operations representing a minority of total traffic
- •Ground vehicle/ramp conflicts account for three separate events across different operators and years, suggesting a persistent systemic hazard at this airport
- •Most events involved commercial or Part 121/135 operators; pure GA events are rare but present (Cessna 441 in 2008, Bell 206 in 2016, Piper PA-32 in 2024)
- •Two events involved Cessna 208/208B aircraft, both in conditions involving restricted visibility or night operations
- •Event frequency peaked in 2015–2016 with four events in two years
Runway Analysis
Key Risks
Common Causes
Seasonal Patterns
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database. Analysis generated 2026-04-14. This data is provided for flight planning awareness and does not replace official safety briefings.
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