by Jim Timm
The following are the reports of aviation accidents and incidents that occurred in Arizona from May through late June. Once again, in this reporting period, aviation safety was still not really the greatest. While there were only six reported accidents, about half as many as last time, at the very end of the reporting period there was again a fatal accident claiming the lives of two people. The last accident in last month’s report is being repeated at the beginning of this report. Last month the details of this accident were not available. This month they were, and you need to read them carefully. The pilot was reported to be a student pilot, and the accident just shouldn’t have happened. I wish pilots would fly more thoughtfully, and we could keep the severity and number of accidents and incidents down.
In continuing with the expanded scope of the report, using information from the ASN, FAA, NTSB, and APA members, I hope this more all-inclusive information better suits our purposes of trying to get an idea of what is happening out there, so we can use this information to help make flying safer.
Here are the summary results from these sources:
Date: May 25, 2022
Info. Source: ASN, FAA, NTSB
Location: Show Low (SOW)
Type: Cessna 172
Injuries: 2 Fatalities
IN FLIGHT LOSS OF POWER
The aircraft was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Show Low, and the pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Witnesses at the Show Low Airport observed the airplane attempt a takeoff from runway 25. They stated the airplane became airborne two or three times but did not climb out of ground effect. The witnesses stated the engine was “sputtering” and did not sound right on this first takeoff attempt, and also when it taxied back to the run-up area. As the airplane approached the departure end of the runway on this first attempt, it was observed as “getting squirrelly” and sliding sideways. The pilot then taxied back to the approach end of runway 25 and performed a run-up before attempting a second takeoff. The pilot then attempted a second takeoff. A pilot witness said the pilot “milked it off the runway, set it back down, and milked it off the runway again.” The airplane remained at a low altitude and began a left turn towards the downwind. When the airplane reached a downwind heading, the airplane sank out of sight behind terrain. The pilot witness said the engine “sounded rich, like it was bogged down,” during this second takeoff. The airplane impacted a stream in an open field about 1 mile southwest of the departure end of runway 25. The airplane was substantially damaged, and a post-accident examination of the airplane’s engine revealed that the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve was seized in the open position. The engine and No. 4 cylinder were retained for further examination.
Date: May 13, 2022
Info. Source: FAA
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Cessna 170
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
RUNWAY EXCURSION
The Cessna 170 landed, and shortly after landing the aircraft ground looped, exited the runway, and came to a stop. The pilot reported no damage or injuries and taxied to the taxiway. The pilot was instructed to contact ground control. Airport and Emergency vehicles were dispatched, and the runway was checked for FOD, and then reopened for use.
Date: May 20, 2022
Info. Source: FAA
Location: Flagstaff (FLG)
Type: Cessna 208
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
STRUCK AN OBJECT WHILE TAXING
The Cessna 208 Caravan struck a fence pole with the leading edge of the left wing while taxiing. The extent of the damage was determined to be minor.
Date: May 22, 2022
Info. Source: ASN, FAA, NTSB
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Cessna 172
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
INFLIGHT LOSS OF POWER
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from Prescott Regional Airport, while climbing over the airport perimeter fence, the airplane’s engine lost power and suddenly stopped. He immediately cycled the magnetos, pushed the mixture to full rich, and pushed the nose down. Despite his efforts, the engine did not restart. Subsequently, the pilot initiated a forced landing in a field about 1 mile from the runway threshold. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a tree stump, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.
Date: May 30, 2022
Info. Source: FAA
Location: Sedona (SEZ)
Type: Cirrus SR20
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The Cirrus aircraft exited the east side of runway 21 during the landing roll. No damage to the aircraft was reported.
Date: June 6, 2022
Info. Source: ASN, FAA
Location: Holbrook
Type: AviPro Bearhawk
Injuries: 1 Minor Injury
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
While landing, the Bearhawk bounced, veered off the side of the runway, traversed through about 700 feet of brush/sand, and hit a berm. All of the landing gear sustained damage with the one gear being separated, and the left wing was also damaged. Damage was determined to be substantial.
Date: June 18, 2022
Info. Source: ASN, FAA, NTSB
Location: Buckeye (BXK)
Type: Beechcraft E35 Bonanza
Injuries: 2 Fatal
CRASH ON APPROACH TO LAND
After departing Glendale airport, the Beech Bonanza crashed northwest of Buckeye Municipal Airport under unknown circumstances. Per a witness, the aircraft may have crashed during the approach to land at Buckeye. The aircraft was consumed by fire and destroyed.