aviation_accident_summary_october_2018.jpg

 

The following are the NTSB reports of aviation accidents that occurred in Arizona from May through late June. APA will use this detailed accident information to develop safety programs, briefings, and posters/flyers that help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others and take the action necessary to prevent them from having similar accidents.

Aviation safety in the past reporting period was not good. There were five accidents that occurred in this reporting period, with two of the accidents each resulting in a fatality. When this report was written, two fatal accidents had not yet been reported by the NTSB, and the limited details of the accidents came from the Aviation Safety Network (ASN) and the media. There were also two previous accidents that had their detailed preliminary reports released this period. The following report contains all the available details.

In spite of the suggestions for everyone to avoid the Coronavirus by staying home, I think it would certainly be prudent to go flying to keep current and keep your skills up. Please be extra cautious and safe, and please don’t do anything to add to this report.

 

THE FOLLOWING ACCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THIS REPORTING PERIOD

 

Accident Date: May 16, 2020

Preliminary Report Dated: June 6, 2020

Title 14 CFR Part 91

Location: Buckeye

Aircraft Type: TANARG Air Creation (Weight Shift Trike)

Injuries: UNK

NTSB Preliminary Report Details Have Not Been Released, No Other Information

 

 

Accident Date: June 2, 2020

Preliminary Report: June 15, 2020

Title 14 CFR Part 91

Location: Glendale

Aircraft Type: OMF 100-160

Injuries: 2 Uninjured

LANDING GEAR STRUCTURAL FAILURE ON LANDING

On June 2, 2020, about 1930 MST, a Symphony Aircraft Industries, Inc. OMF-100-160 airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident on Glendale Municipal Airport (GEU). The airline transport pilot and pilot-rated passenger were uninjured. 

The pilot reported that neither occupant observed any anomalies during their preflight inspection. They departed uneventfully and remained within the airport traffic pattern while they took turns performing touch and goes. After the pilot-rated passenger completed five normal landings, the pilot took the controls in the airport traffic pattern and configured the airplane for his approach. Following a normal touchdown, the pilot heard a loud thud and the airplane veered to the right. He applied left aileron and left rudder to return the airplane to the runway center. However, after the pilot subsequently applied brake pressure, the airplane rapidly departed the right runway edge, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest. According to the occupants, none of their previous touch downs were hard.

Preliminary photographs provided by the airport manager's office showed substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer. The right main landing gear separated at the gear leg root and several structural tubes had failed. A section of the right main landing gear was retained for further examination.

 

 

Accident Date: June 9, 2020

Preliminary Report: Information from ASN and Media

Location: Safford

Aircraft Type: RV4

Injuries: 1 Fatality

CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN

The airplane departed Tucson, and at approximately 8:00 am the aircraft impacted hillside terrain while on approach to Safford Regional Airport (SAD). The airplane sustained substantial damage and the sole pilot onboard received fatal injures.

 

 

Accident Date: June 9, 2020

Preliminary Report: Information from ASN and Media

Location: Maricopa (A39)

Aircraft Type: Zenair CH601 HDS

Injuries: 1 Fatality

CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN

The pilot had departed Deer Valley (DVT) for AK Chin (A39) for fuel. At approximately 8:00 pm, the airplane struck the very top of a small mountain about 2 miles northeast of the airport and was consumed by a subsequent fire. Per various sources, the pilot had inherited the airplane from his father, who had built it. It was powered by a Hirth 2 cycle engine. A knowledgeable individual familiar with the airplane estimated the engine was capable of approx. 60 HP.

 

 

Accident Date: June 16, 2020

Preliminary Report Dated: June 18

Location: Maricopa (A39)

Aircraft Type: Cessna P210

Injuries: UNK

NTSB Preliminary Report Details Have Not Been Released

Per the ASN report, the airplane made a gear up landing at A39, and no one was injured except for the airplane.

 

THE FOLLOWING TWO ACCIDENTS HAD BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED IN OUR LAST REPORTING PERIOD, BUT THE NTSB ONLY RELEASED THE FOLLOWING DETAILED REPORTS OF THESE ACCIDENTS IN THIS REPORTING PERIOD

 

Accident Date: May 13, 2020

Preliminary Report: June 2, 2020

Title 14 CFR Part 91

Location: Phoenix (DVT)

Aircraft Type: Mooney M20J

Injuries: 2 Uninjured

LANDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY

On May 13, 2020, about 0842 MST, a Mooney M20J airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT). The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured.

According to the pilot, the purpose of the personal flight was to observe the airplane's performance following a propeller overhaul that was completed about 2 weeks prior. The pilot performed two initial ground runs prior to the accident, but was unable to achieve maximum takeoff rpm on either occasion. Following each ground run, the pilot would return the airplane to his hangar where an airframe and power plant mechanic would make adjustments to the propeller governor.

On the day of the accident, the pilot departed with the mechanic onboard and observed 2,580 rpm on the tachometer as he climbed to 6,000 ft mean sea level. He then leveled off and retarded the throttle to 2,500 rpm. After observing a stable cruise power setting for several minutes, they decided to return to DVT. However, almost immediately the engine advanced to 2,850 rpm without any intervention from the pilot who promptly retarded the propeller lever until he observed 15 inches Hg on the manifold pressure gauge. At this time, the engine continued to function, but it sounded erratic and could not be manipulated by throttle movement.

They were about 2.5 nm from the airport and in a descent when they encountered catastrophic engine failure and lost all power. The pilot selected a landing area with minimal vegetation and deployed the landing gear. During touchdown, the airplane landed hard and slid before it came to rest in a shallow gulley.

The airplane and engine were recovered for examination.

 

 

Accident Date: May 14, 2020 

Preliminary Report: May 27, 2020

Title 14 CFR Part 91

Location: Tucson

Aircraft Type: Cessna 172P

Injuries: 1 Uninjured

LANDED ON A ROAD AND HIT A TREE

On May 14, 2020, about 0950 MST, a Cessna 172P airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tucson. The pilot was not injured.

The pilot reported that about 3 hours and 50 minutes into the aerial survey flight, the engine began to sputter. The pilot verified the fuel selector was in the "both" position, checked the magnetos, and pushed the mixture full forward. He pumped the throttle and was able to get a surge in engine power, but it would not sustain. He initiated a forced landing onto a roadway, however, during landing, the airplane encountered a downdraft and landed short of the road.

Local law enforcement reported that the fuel selector was in the "both" position. The left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank contained "a large quantity of fuel”.

The airplane has been recovered to a secure location for further examination.

 

Please login to add a comment.