
by Jim Timm
The following are the reports of aviation accidents, and incidents that have occurred in Arizona from mid-November through December. We hope to use the following detailed accident/incident 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.
This Accident/Incident report is not the best because the number of Accidents/Incidents is still a bit high. Fortunately, most of the occurrences didn’t involve injuries. With the more pleasant temperatures we have been enjoying, this may also encourage more people to fly.
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 try to help make flying safer.
In the meantime, here are the results from the above sources.
Date: November 17, 2024
Source: ASN, FAA
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Cessna 172S Sky Hawk
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
COMM/CFI Pilot
GROUND COLLISION
The aircraft sustained minor damage when involved in a ground taxiing collision with the following Remos.
Date: November 17, 2024
Source: ASN, FAA
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Remos GX
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
Unknown Pilot Certification
GROUND COLLISION
The Remos was substantially damaged when involved with the above aircraft when it taxied into the moving prop of the 172.
Date: November 19, 2024
Source: ASN, FAA
Location: Show Low (SOW)
Type: Aviat A-1B Husky
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
Private Pilot
DAMAGED DURING LANDING
The aircraft was substantially damaged when it ground looped during the landing and ended up upside down off the runway.
Date: November 27, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ)
Type: Cirrus SF-50 Vision Jet
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
Unknown Pilot Certification
ABORTED TAKEOFF
The nose gear “locked up” during the takeoff roll, and the Vision Jet came to a stop before the end of the runway. The airport ground crew assisted the aircraft off the runway.
Date: December 1, 2024
Source: ASN, NTSB, FAA
Location: Wilcox (P33)
Type: Beechcraft B35-33 Debonair
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
ATP Pilot
OFF AIRPORT LANDING
A Beech 35-33, Debonair, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Willcox (P33).
The pilot reported that after practicing steep turns and stalls, he descended make a practice GPS approach to Cochise County Airport (P33). During the pre-landing checklist, the pilot switched the fuel selector valve to the right-wing tank and the engine lost power. The pilot switched back to the left tank and checked the mixture control position. He turned on the fuel boost pump, switched fuel tank positions again, however, he was unable to restore engine power, and the pilot initiated a forced landing. He extended the flaps and retracted the landing gear due to the terrain and vegetation. The airplane landed and slid about 260 ft on desert terrain sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage.
Date: December 2, 2024
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Chandler (CHD)
Type: Cessna 172
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
Unknown Pilot Certification
PROP STRIKE
While doing touched goes at Chandler they had a prop strike. The damage was assessed to be minor.
Date: December 8, 2024
Source: ASN, FAA Incident
Location: Coolidge Airport (P08)
Type: Diamond DA 42 Twin Star
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
Unknown Pilot Certification
GEAR UP LANDING
The Twin Star departed Mesa Falcon field and made a gear up landing on the runway at Coolidge Airport (PO8).
Date: December 9, 2024
Source: ASN, FAA
Location: Glendale (GEU)
Type: Bellanca 7GCBC Citabria
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
Unknown Pilot Certification
MAIN GEAR FAILURE
After taking off and then re-landing at Glendale airport (GEU), the right main gear “snapped off” the airplane.
Date: December 19, 2024
Source: ASN, FAA, NTSB
Location: Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ)
Type: Piper PA-24-250 Comanche
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
Unknown Pilot Certification
OFF AIRPORT LANDING
The Piper Comanche sustained substantial damage in a forced landing shortly after takeoff from runway 22L at Mesa Falcon Field Airport (FFZ). According to air traffic control (ATC) the pilot reported "issues" shortly after takeoff and that he wanted to return. The controller told the pilot to make right traffic for runway 22R and asked him if he wanted further assistance. The pilot said no, and the readback was correct. A few seconds later, the pilot said I need runway 4L, urgently." The controller cleared the pilot to runway 4L, and the controller then stated your gear appears to be up." To which the pilot replied, "gears down," A few seconds later, a second airplane reported the Comanche was “off-airport".
The FAA reported that the aircraft experienced engine issues and crashed into a tree while trying to land in a field. The airplane came to rest upright on a gravel road west of the departure airport. Both wings and aft fuselage section remained attached to the airframe. The entire engine separated from the airplane during the accident sequence. One propeller blade was bent aft, the second blade appeared straight. There was no post-crash fire.
Date: December 22, 2024
Source: ASN
Location: Near Gila Bend
Type: Van’s RV7A
Injuries: 2 Minor injuries
Unknown Pilot Certification
CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN (CFIT)
The RV7A departed Goodyear Airport (GYR) and was substantially damaged when it crashed under unknown circumstances near Gila Bend. Preliminary ADS-B data shows that the airplane departed GYR, and climbed to a cruising altitude of 4400 ft. About fourteen minutes after takeoff, the airplane entered a descending left hand turn and crashed in a remote area near the Painted Rock Reservoir.