by Jim Timm
The following are the reports of aviation accidents and incidents that occurred in Arizona from mid-February through March. We hope to use the following detailed accident information to develop safety programs, briefings, and posters/flyers to help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others and take the necessary action to prevent them from having similar occurrences.
In this reporting period aviation safety was not the best because of the number of accidents. Near the end of the report we share information about a mid-air collision. While it was a very serious occurrence, only one of the pilots received minor injuries. The most important part is that no one lost their life or got seriously hurt.
The midair collision accident near the end of this report was described by the ASN which uses the media as it’s source of information. Hopefully, next month the accident report can be rerun with more and technically correct information from the NTSB.
In continuing with the expanded scope of the report, we’re using information from the Aviation Safety Network (ASN), FAA, NTSB, and APA Members. This more inclusive information source suits our purpose of trying to get an idea of what is happening out there so we can help make flying safer.
In the meantime, here are the results from the above sources.
Date: February 20, 2023
Source: FAA (Incident)
Location: Mesa (FFZ)
Type: Piper PA28-180
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
RUNWAY EXCURSION
After an instructional flight, while landing, the aircraft veered off the left side of the runway. The pilot reported a flat front tire and a prop strike. The aircraft was removed from the runway by airport operations personnel.
Date: March 1, 2023
Source: FAA (Incident)
Location: Mesa (FFZ)
Type: Piper PA28-181
Injuries: Unknown
RUNWAY EXCURSION
During its landing roll out on RWY 8L at FFZ, the Piper Archer departed the runway and went through the RWY safety area between intersections E3 and E4, then came to a stop on taxiway Echo. The airport management reported no damage to the airfield infrastructure as well no damage to the aircraft.
Date: March 6, 2023
Source: ASN, FAA (Incident)
Location: Laughlin/Bullhead (IFP)
Type: Rockwell 690A Turbo Commander
Injuries: 1 Uninjured, 1 Minor Injury
POSSIBLE FUEL EXHAUSTION
Per the ASN, the Rockwell 690A Turbo Commander departed Plainview-Hale County Airport, TX (PVW), and made an emergency diversion to Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IFP), after reporting problems while en-route to Las Vegas-Henderson Sky Harbor Airport (HND), Nevada. It landed between the runway and taxiway and struck a taxiway light during the process. The FAA suspected the aircraft had encountered a fuel exhaustion issue. The extent of damage was undetermined.
Date: March 8, 2023
Source: FAA, NTSB
Location: Not Given
Type: Eurocopter AS350
Injuries: Unknown Number Uninjured
HARD LANDING
The helicopter’s tail rotors were damaged during a hard landing. The NTSB damage assessment was that the damage was minor.
Date: March 8, 2023
Source: ASN
Location: West of Tusayan, AZ.
Type: Piper PA34-200m Seneca
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
INFLIGHT LOSS OF POWER IN ONE ENGINE
After departing Glendale Airport (GEU) with a destination of Kanab Municipal Airport, Utah (KNB), the Piper PA-34-200 Seneca was not damaged subsequent to the forced landing west of Tusayan following an inflight loss of engine power in one engine over Coconino County short of an intended emergency destination of Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCN).
Date: March 17,2023
Source: ASN
Location: Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ)
Type: Yak-52
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
MIDAIR COLLISION
Two aircraft of a three-ship formation touched wings while flying in the vicinity of Falcon Field Airport (FFZ). One aircraft, the Yak-52, reportedly landed safely, while the second aircraft, a Ryan Navion, crashed during landing at KFFZ.
Date: March 17, 2023
Source: ASN
Location: Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ)
Type: Ryan Navion A
Injuries: 1 Minor Injury
MIDAIR COLLISION
Two aircraft of a three-ship formation touched wings while flying in the vicinity of Falcon Field Airport (FFZ). The Yak-52, reportedly landed safely, while the second aircraft, a Ryan Navion, crashed during landing at KFFZ, and was damaged beyond repair.
Date: March 17, 2023
Source: ASN, NTSB
Location: Bullhead City (A20)
Type: Velocity Elite (An Experimental Canard)
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
WIND FLIPPED IT OVER DURING LANDING
The Velocity Elite departed Las Vegas-Henderson Airport (HND) and sustained substantial damage when it encountered a gust of wind that flipped it over while the pilot was landing at Sun Valley-Bison-Fort Mohave Airport (A20), Bullhead, AZ.
Date: March 23, 2023
Source: ASN
Location: Scottsdale
Type: Stemme S12
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
INFLIGHT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER
The Stemme Motor Glider had departed Deer Valley airport (DVT) and was planning to return to DVT, but due to an inflight engine failure the motor glider made a forced landing at the Estancia Golf Club, northeast of Scottsdale Airport (SDL).