by Jim Timm
The following are the reports of aviation accidents and incidents that have occurred in Arizona from mid-March through mid-April. 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.
While the number of accidents/Incidents may have been down in this past reporting period, aviation safety has not been the best because of the fatality that was incurred in one of the accidents. At least in all the other occurrences nobody got hurt. I can only hope things will 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: March 14, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ)
Type: Cessna 172
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LANDED WITHOUT A NOSE GEAR
The Cessna lost the nose gear during touch and go landings at Coolidge Municipal airport and returned to Mesa Falcon Field and landed without the nose gear. The damage incurred was minor.
Date: March 16, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ)
Type: Cessna 172
Injuries: UNK. Uninjured
DOOR DAMAGE
While not intending to make a flight, it was reported that the door to the aircraft was damaged by the prop downwash from the rotor of a nearby helicopter.
Date: March 17, 2024
Source: ASN, FAA, NTSB
Location: Gila Bend (E63)
Type: Air Creation Twin
Injuries: 1 Fatality 1 Serious Injury
INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL
An experimental light-sport trike weight shift control Air Creation Twin was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Gila Bend, Arizona.
According to the passenger, who was seated in the front seat, intended on purchasing the aircraft, and was receiving flight instruction from the pilot. He reported that the morning of the accident, they had flown around the local area for about 45 minutes to increase his flight experience and understanding of the flight characteristics of a weight-shift control aircraft. The passenger stated that after the local flight, they returned to Gila Bend Municipal Airport (E63), Gila Bend, Arizona, and focused on takeoffs and landings on runway 04. Prior to operating in the airport traffic pattern, the pilot had briefed the passenger to maintain aircraft control during the approach to landing, and before the aircraft touched down, transfer control of the aircraft back to the pilot, who would abort the landing and initiate a go-around.
During the second approach to landing, the passenger heard the pilot state, “my airplane” and relinquished the flight controls, as he heard the engine spool up to which he opined that the engines, “sounded strong.” The passenger stated that the aircraft turned to the right and overflew the dirt area that paralleled the right side of runway 04. As the aircraft’s descent rate was arrested, it continued to drift to the right, over brush and vegetation. Subsequently, the aircraft turned left, toward the runway and the left wing struck a mesquite tree. The aircraft descended into the ground and came to rest on its right side, oriented on an easterly heading, about 2,634 ft from the approach end of runway 04, and about 158 ft southeast of the runway centerline.
Date: March 21, 2024
Source: ASN, FAA, NTSB
Location: Coolidge (P08)
Type: Diamond DA40
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL TAKING OFF
The Diamond departed Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport for Coolidge to practice touch-and-go landings. During a takeoff the aircraft stalled and came down hard on the landing gear resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Date: March 28, 2024
Source: ASN, FAA
Location: Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
Type: IAI 1125 Astra SPX
Injuries: 5 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAKE OFF
An IAI 1125 Astra SPX Private jet overran runway 25L at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport after an aborted takeoff and sustained minor damage.
Date: March 28, 2024
Source: ASN
Location: Phoenix Deer Valley (DVT)
Type: American Legend LA18 Super Legend
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The aircraft ground looped on landing. The left wing struck the runway and substantial damage was incurred.
Date: March 29, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ)
Type: Piper PA-28-181
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
STRUCK ANOTHER AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND
While rapidly exiting the active runway, the wing of the aircraft struck the tail of another Piper on the parallel taxiway. The damage was assessed to be minor.