by Jim Timm
The following are the reports of aviation accidents and incidents that occurred in Arizona from mid-November through mid-December. 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 be able to take the necessary action to prevent them from having similar occurrences.
In this reporting period aviation safety was not very good because of the very large number of accidents/incidents reported, and the number of fatal accidents that had also occurred in the past reporting period.
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 suites 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: November 16, 2023
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Flagstaff (FLG)
Type: Cessna 177R
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
GEAR UP LANDING
The Cessna Cardinal made a gear up landing as a result of a landing gear malfunction.
Date: November 18, 2023
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Chandler (CHD)
Type: Piper PA-28-161
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
RUNWAY EXCURSION
Because of poor weather conditions, the pilot requested an immediate landing. The pilot landed long and ran off the end of the runway into the overrun area. The pilot then taxied to parking without further incident, and there was no reported damage to either aircraft or airport property.
Date: November 18, 2023
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Vans RV-6A
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
TAIL STRIKE
The airplane had a tail strike during a landing and lost its tail tie down loop. During a runway check, the loop was found and returned to the aircraft owner.
Date: November 19, 2023
Source: FAA, Incident
Location: Goodyear (GYR)
Type: Cirrus SR20
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
BIRD STRIKE
The aircraft struck a bird while landing at Goodyear (GYR). Upon inspection, the pilot and airport operations reported the temperature sensor below the right wing was bent “a little bit”. Later the airport operations recovered the remains of a bird from the runway. The extent of any other damage was undetermined.
Date: November 22, 2023
Source: FAA, Incident
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Cessna 172
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
While landing, the Cessna went off the runway and struck a taxiway light. There was no reported damage to the aircraft.
Date: November 29, 2023 (Approximate Date)
Source: APA Member
Location: West Chandler
Type: Unknown Experimental
Injuries: UNK Uninjured
LOSS OF DOOR
A door came off of an Experimental Aircraft while in flight west of Costco in west Chandler. The owner wants to know if anyone found it. He reported the loss to the Chandler police department in hopes they could assist in locating the missing door. (I suspect someone maybe found it laying on the ground, and in disgust thinking it fell off a car or truck, probably threw it in the trash without telling anyone.)
Date: December 4, 2023
Source: ASN, FAA
Location: Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ)
Type: Piper PA-28-180
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LOSS OF ENGINE COWL
The Piper Cherokee took off from Mesa Falcon Field, and shortly after takeoff it had the engine cowling come off, cracking the windshield. The aircraft then made a safe emergency landing at Williams Gateway airport (IWA).
Date: December 6, 2023
Source: ASN, FAA, NTSB
Location: Taylor (TYL)
Type: Remos GX
Injuries: 1 Serious Injury
LOSS OF CONTROL ON TAKEOFF
The Remos crashed shortly after takeoff from Taylor Airport (TYL). Apparently, the crash was observed by an overflying aircraft, which reported the incident. The aircraft came to rest inverted just off the edge of the runway and was severely damaged. Responding authorities reported the pilot was the only person onboard. He sustained life-threatening injuries, and was air evacuated to Phoenix.
Date: December 6, 2023
Source: FAA, Incident
Location: Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ)
Type: Piper PA-28-180
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
OVER RAN THE RUNWAY
The Piper was cleared for a touch-and-go landing. The aircraft didn’t lift off after landing as expected, but continued down the runway, and ran off the runway. The crash phone was pulled, and a foam truck responded as did the EMS team and two airport operations vehicles. The runway was inspected for FOD, and the airplane was towed to the ramp without further incident. There were no reported injuries or damage to the aircraft.
Date: December 7, 2023
Source: ASN, FAA
Location: North Phoenix
Type: Ultramagic N-300
Balloon Injuries: 9 Uninjured
HARD LANDING
The hot air balloon made a hard landing as a result of changing wind currents and the balloon sustained damage during the impact with a streetlight and the terrain in north Phoenix.
Date: December 7, 2023
Source: FAA , Incident
Location: Goodyear (GYR)
Type: Cessna 172
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
TAXIING INTO PARKED AIRCRAFT
While the Cessna was turning onto the ramp its wingtip struck the rudder of a parked airplane, damaging it. The full extent of the damage was unknown. The student’s Cessna was undamaged.
Date: December 7, 2023
Source: FAA , Incident
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Cessna 172
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
TAIL STRIKE
The Cessna had been cleared for touch-and-go landings, and the aircraft landed and told the controller he was making a full stop landing. When asked of the reason for the aborted takeoff the pilot stated he had a minor tail scrape. A runway inspection was made, and no damage was found, and there was no damage noted on the aircraft.
Date: December 8, 2023
Source: ASN, FAA, NTSB
Location: Near Eloy
Type: Series 5 Kitfox
Injuries: 1 Fatality
INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL
The aircraft which was returning to Tucson from Eloy was destroyed by fire during an accident 1.6 miles southwest of Eloy Municipal Airport (E60). Apparently, the airplane lost a prop blade shortly after takeoff. The sole pilot onboard the two-seat single-engine airplane was fatally injured.
Date: December 10, 2023
Source: ASN, NTSB
Location: Near Golden Shores
Type: Beechcraft A36 Bonanza
Injuries: 1 Fatality
IN FLIGHT LOSS OF POWER
The pilot had departed from Sun Valley Airport (A20), Bullhead City, to pick up a passenger at Prescott Regional Airport (PRC). About 14 minutes after takeoff the pilot reported to Air Traffic Control (ATC) that he had lost oil pressure. Radio and radar contact were lost shortly after the reported loss of oil pressure. The airplane subsequently impacted rocky desert terrain near an unimproved road, and a post impact fire consumed the cockpit, right wing, and a portion of the fuselage. The pilot sustained burns and other serious injuries which later proved to be fatal.
Date: December 12, 2023
Source: FAA
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Long EZ
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
BROKEN CONTROL STICK
During the flight the control stick broke. The pilot was able to control the aircraft with the remaining portion of the stick and made a hard landing at Prescott (PRC). The extent of damage was determined to be minor.