by Jim Timm
The following are the reports of aviation accidents and incidents that occurred in Arizona from mid-December through January. 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 take the necessary action to prevent them from having similar occurrences.
In this reporting period aviation safety was not very good. While we had a very small number of accidents/incidents reported, one of the three accidents reported involved four fatalities. The other accident involved one person, and he received minor injuries, and in the other accident no one was injured. In the three incidents reported, no one got hurt. We finished the year 2023 in a good and safe manner. I really wish we could have started 2024 on a better note than having that bad balloon accident. Only time will tell how the year will unfold. We can only hope it will be better.
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.
Date: December 15, 2023
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Scottsdale (SDL)
Type: Van’s RV-7A
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
During the landing roll the RV-7A missed the intersection turnoff and turned into the rocks just past the runway edge line. The pilot stated the brakes didn’t allow him to make the turn properly. Airport operations personnel pushed the aircraft back into the taxiway, and the pilot taxied to the ramp without further incident. There was no reported damage to the aircraft or airport property.
Date: December 19, 2023
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Lake Havasu City (HII)
Type: CJ-6A Nanchang
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
GEAR UP LANDING
While performing touch and go landings, the pilot made two successful landings, and then on the third landing the pilot forgot to put the landing gear down. The aircraft slid off the right side of the runway and into the dirt. The damage to the aircraft was determined to be minor.
Date: December 21, 2023
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT)
Type: BE58 Beechcraft Baron
Injuries: Number UNK Uninjured
ENGINE FAILURE
The pilot declared an emergency due to a right-side engine failure and landed on RWY 7R without incident.
Date: December 26, 2023
Source: ASN, NTSB
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Glasair SH-2
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The aircraft had departed Safford (SAD), and had an uneventful wheel landing on runway 21L at its destination, Prescott (PRC). The pilot reported that he held the tail off the ground until the airplane had decelerated to about 30 mph. As soon as the tailwheel touched the ground, the airplane swung hard to the right, ground looped, and came to rest on the runway edge.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward left fuselage which had buckled and delaminated just above the left main landing gear leg. The left fuel tank was also breached and leaking fuel. Post accident examination revealed that the tailwheel was jammed at a 45° angle to the left.
Date: January 14, 2024
Source: ASN, NTSB
Location: North of Eloy
Type: Kubicek BB85Z Balloon
Injuries: 8 Uninjured, 1 Serious. 4 Fatal
HARD LANDING
The 17 passenger Kubicek Hot Air balloon took off with 13 passengers, of which 8 were Parachutists. At an altitude of about 10,000 Feet MSL the eight skydivers executed the planned jump in small groups. Shortly after they all safely jumped, the hot air in the balloon escaped, the deflated balloon collapsed, and the basket fell, impacting the ground. One person was severely injured, and four, including the balloon pilot, perished.
Date: January 17, 2024
Source: ASN
Location: Yuma International Airport (YUM)
Type: Eclipse-10 Experimental Autogyro
Injuries: 1 Minor injury
LOSS OF CONTROL
During takeoff the pilot lost control and the aircraft rolled on its side.