by Jim Timm
The following are the reports of aviation accidents and incidents that have occurred in Arizona from mid-April through May. We hope to use the following detailed accident information to develop safety programs, briefings, and posters/flyers that would 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.
The number of accidents/Incidents have been very significantly up this past reporting period, and aviation safety has also not been the best because of a fatality that was incurred in one of the accidents. At least in all the other occurrences nobody got hurt. Things will have to improve as we go forward.
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: April 12, 2024
Source: FAA, NTSB
Location: Wilcox
Type: Piper PA-28-32-300
Injuries: 3 Uninjured
STRUCK OBSTRUCTION ON TAKEOFF
The Piper Cherokee 6 was departing Indie Motorsports Ranch when it encountered a 20-KNOT wind gust, which pushed them into a wall next to the runway and sheared off the left landing gear. The aircraft squawked an emergency on the Albuquerque Center frequency, and the center then provided flight following for the aircraft while it flew to Mesa Falcon Field where it made a safe landing. The full extent of the damage was unknown.
Private Pilot
Date: April 13, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Scottsdale (SDL)
Type: Cirrus SR22
Injuries: 4 Uninjured
NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE
The nose Gear collapsed upon landing at Scottsdale. The damage that was incurred was minor.
Private Pilot
Date: April 14, 2024
Source: ASN
Location: Ak Chin (A39)
Type: Paramotor Powered Parachute
Injuries: 1 Fatality
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
A “paramotor,” an Aircraft designation known as a Powered Parachute, sustained substantial damage subsequent to an impact with terrain during an apparent landing attempt northwest of Ak-Chin Regional Airport (A39).
No Pilot Certification Required.
Date: April 14, 2024
Source: FAA, NTSB
Location: Payson (PAN)
Type: Team Rocket F1 (Experimental)
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The aircraft had departed from Glendale Airport, and upon landing at Payson the aircraft encountered a cross wind, and the aircraft bounced, and drifted to the right. The right wingtip contacted the ground, bending the right landing gear, and experienced a prop strike, damaging the engine mount. The NTSB assessed the damage to be substantial.
Commercial Pilot
Date: April 17, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Phoenix Deer Valley (DVT)
Type: Cessna 182
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
STRUCK WHILE ON THE GROUND
While the Cessna 182 was holding short of the runway waiting to takeoff, and the rudder was clipped by another aircraft. The extent of the damage was unknown.
Private Pilot
Date: April 17, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Phoenix Deer Valley (DVT)
Type: Pilatus PC-12
Injuries: 3 Uninjured
STRUCK ANOTHER AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND
While the Pilatus was taxiing on a taxi way the pilot reported he had struck the rudder of a Cessna 182, The extent of the damage was unknown.
Commercial Pilot
Date: April 17, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Casa Grande (CGZ)
Type: Cirrus SR 22
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
IN FLIGHT EMERGENCY
The Cirrus requested the nearest airport because of an engine vibration whenever power was applied. The controller suggested Casa Grande (CGZ) and verified that the pilot was declaring an emergency. The aircraft made a safe landing at Casa Grande airport.
Private Pilot
Date: April 19, 2024
Source: FAA, NTSB
Location: Pinal Airpark (MJZ)
Type: Piper PA-28-151 Warrior
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
INFLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE
The Piper Warrior had departed Coolidge, and while in cruise they encountered a catastrophic engine failure and made a Mayday call. They landed in a field 12 miles north of Pinal Airpark, and the aircraft damage was determined to be substantial.
Unknown Pilot Certification
Date: April 20, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Flagstaff (FLG)
Type: 1A-1125 Astra Jet
Injuries: 5 Uninjured
INFLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE
The Astra Jet had an engine failure, and an emergency was declared. The aircraft made a safe landing at Flagstaff, and the emergency was terminated by the Flagstaff airport AARF9 team.
Unknown Pilot Certification
Date: April 21, 2024
Source: FAA
Location: Phoenix Goodyear (GYR)
Type: Cessna 210
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
GROUND FIRE
The aircraft caught fire while the pilot was running it up prior to flight. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft safely and requested assistance from the fire department. The pilot was checking the aircraft after its annual inspection, and the fire damage was substantial.
Commercial Pilot
Date: April 22, 2024
Source: FAA, NTSB
Location: Benson (E95)
Type: Rans S-75 Courier
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER TAKEOFF
The Rans Courier lost fuel pressure shortly after takeoff and made an emergency landing in the desert. During the landing the landing gear collapsed and substantial damage was incurred.
Private Pilot
Date: April 26, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Ryan Field (RYN)
Type: Piper PA-28R-200
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
GEAR UP LANDING
The Piper Arrow landed gear up at Tucson Ryan Field, and the NTSB assessed the damage to be minor.
Unknown Pilot Certification
Date: April 29, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Glendale (GEU)
Type: Beechcraft BE-A36
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
GEAR UP LANDING
The Beech Bonanza landed gear up at Glendale Airport, and the damage was determined to be minor.
Private Pilot
Date: May 1, 2024
Source: NTSB, FAA Incident
Location: Near Marana
Type: Piper PA-28-180
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
ENGINE FAILURE
The pilot reported a rough running engine and landed in a canal on the final approach one mile short of the runway at Marana Regional Airport. Per the NTSB the aircraft was undamaged.
Unknown Pilot Certification
Date: May 1, 2024
Source: ASN, NTSB
Location: Chandler (CHD)
Type: Piper PA-28-181 Archer
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The aircraft had departed from Falcon Field (FFZ), and while landing at Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD) the aircraft went off the runway, and struck a sign causing substantial damage to the aircraft.
Unknown Pilot Certification
Date: May 6, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Cessna 172
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
Upon landing at Prescott, the aircraft drifted off the runway into the sod between the runway and the parallel taxiway. The aircraft was ultimately towed to parking.
Unknown Pilot Certification
Date: May 9, 2024
Source: FAA
Location: Lake Havasu (HII)
Type: Bushmaster-4P Amateur Built Amphibian
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
HARD LANDING
The aircraft lost power while turning downwind to land and made a hard landing. The aircraft ended up inverted on the ground. The extent of the damage was unknown.
Unknown Pilot Certification
Date: May 21, 2024
Source: ASN
Location: Pleasant Valley Airport (P48) Closed
Type: Nanchang CJ-6A
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The CJ-6 departed Phoenix Deer Valley airport and was substantially damaged when it collided with a parked trailer during a landing attempt at the closed Pleasant Valley Airport near Lake Pleasant. Preliminary information indicates the aircraft experienced engine issues, and attempted a landing at the permanently closed airport, but it overshot the runway (3950 x 35 ft).
Unknown Pilot Certification