By Jim Timm 

February 2018 

The following are NTSB reports of aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona from late December, 2017, through late January, 2018. We use this detailed accident information to develop safety programs and briefings that will help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others, and then hopefully they will take the action necessary to prevent similar accidents from happening to them.

This past reporting period, things have really turned around, and for once we have an excellent accident report. There was only one NTSB reported accident, and even that one was relatively minor in nature. Apparently there were no injuries, and if there were any, they were minor in nature. This report also includes an accident that had occurred late in November and the details were just released in the past reporting period. It’s unfortunate that in the past three reporting periods, the NTSB has reported seven accidents without releasing the details of the accident. As the details are released we will provide the information to you. I don’t know if flying activity has decreased or if everyone has made a new year’s resolution to fly safer. I certainly hope it’s the latter.

For a brief look at what has happened in 2017 based on the NTSB reports made available:

2017 was not a particularly good year for aviation safety in Arizona because of the number of accidents, injuries, and in particular the large number of fatalities that occurred. We must do what we can to reduce these numbers for 2018, and the only way we can do this is to think carefully about what we are doing, and make sure that before each flight that BOTH the airplane and pilot are airworthy and current. We are off to a good start for the New Year, so let’s keep it up and please fly Safe!

THE FOLLOWING ARE DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT THAT HAD OCCURRED IN THE PREVIOUS REPORTING PERIOD.

Accident Date: Thursday, November 23, 2017
Report Dated: 1/10/18 Factual & Final Report
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Overgaard
Aircraft Type: Kitfox Model 4   1200 IV
Injuries:  2 Uninjured

LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING

The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the tailwheel equipped airplane veered to the right. He over corrected, the airplane exited the left side of the runway and ground looped to the left.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to fuselage and right wing.
The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 

THE FOLLOWING IS THE ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD

Accident Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Report Dated: 1/23/18 Preliminary Report   (Unpublished)
Title 14 CFR Part 91 
Location: Scottsdale
Aircraft Type:  Beechcraft B60

Injuries:  UNK

The NTSB preliminary report is not publicly available, only the above accident notice information.