The following are the reports of aviation accidents that occurred in Arizona from late November through late December. APA uses this detailed accident information to develop safety programs, briefings, and posters/flyers that would help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others and take the action necessary to prevent them from having similar accidents.
Aviation safety continues to be somewhat of an unknown because accident information is still unavailable from the NTSB, and all information for this report is from the Aviation Safety Network (ASN) and individuals who have submitted information to APA. As you may know, ASN gets their information from the media, and as one would suspect, the information may be a bit inaccurate, lacking in technical detail, and rather brief. Please remember, the accidents reported by the ASN do not meet the same aircraft damage criteria as the NTSB and only meets the media interest level.
So, until the NTSB gets their new accident website up and running, here are the results from the ASN. Apparently, there were only four relatively minor aircraft accidents, and two balloon accidents that had occurred in Arizona, and they are as follows.
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY THE ASN
Accident Date: December 15, 2020
Location: Phoenix
Aircraft Type: Cessna 182S
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAXI
The aircraft experienced a loss of directional control and subsequent taxiway excursion during taxi at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix. The airplane sustained minor damage and the two pilots onboard were not injured during the incident.
Accident Date: December 21, 2020
Location: Wilcox
Aircraft Type: Mooney M20J 201
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
GEAR UP LANDING
The aircraft experienced a gear up landing at Cochise County Airport (P33), Wilcox. The airplane sustained minor damage and the sole pilot onboard was not injured during the incident.
Accident Date: December 22, 2020
Location: Mesa
Aircraft Type: Piper PA28-161
Injuries: 3 Uninjured
AIRCRAFT FIRE ON THE GROUND
The aircraft experienced an onboard fire during taxi to a non-movement area at Falcon Field Airport (FFZ), Mesa. The airplane sustained minor damage and the three occupants onboard were not injured during the incident.
Accident Date: December 27, 2020
Location: Glendale
Aircraft Type: Mooney M20E Super 21
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
GEAR UP LANDING
The aircraft experienced a gear up landing to Runway 01 at Glendale Municipal Airport (GEU). The airplane sustained minor damage and the two occupants onboard were not injured during the incident.
Accident Date: December 26, 2020
Location: Peoria
Aircraft Type: Aerostar International S-90A
Injuries: 2 Minor Injuries, 1 Uninjured
BALLOON ACCIDENT
The balloon clipped power lines and impacted the terrain in Peoria, Arizona. The sightseeing balloon sustained substantial damage from terrain impact and subsequent fire. Two of the three occupants onboard the balloon received minor injuries and one was not injured.
Accident Date: December 29, 2020
Location: Gilbert
Aircraft Type: Colt Balloons 240A
Injuries: 1 Minor Injury, 7 Uninjured
BALLOON WIND GUST ACCIDENT
The tethered balloon experienced a disconnect and subsequent minor damage upon impact with multiple fencings in gusting wind conditions at Gilbert. The pilot onboard the balloon received minor injuries and the accompanying seven passengers were not injured during the incident.