by Jim Timm
The following are the reports of aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona from mid-December through January.
The Accident Report will be limited in size because of the unexpected and sudden passing of Craig Tompkins of the FAA SDL FSDO. Craig always provided the substantial FAA input to the Accident/Incident report, and all the information for the Pilot Deviation and NMAC Reports.
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 a similar occurrence.
The Accident/Incident report is short this time as there were only eight accidents reported this time.
In continuing with the expanded scope of this report, we’re using information from the Aviation Safety Network (ASN), NTSB, and APA Members. Hopefully the information from these sources will suit 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: December 7, 2025
Source: ASN
Location: Chemehuevi Vally Airport (49X)
Type: RotorWay Executive 162F Helicopter
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
Unknown Pilot Information
LANDING ACCIDENT
The helicopter departed Lake Havasu Airport for Chemehuevi Valley Airport, and during the landing, the helicopter was involved in a landing accident.
Date: January 2, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Near Superior
Type: MD369FF Helicopter
Injuries: 4 Fatalities
No Pilot Information
STRUCK LINE BETWEEN MOUNTAINS
The helicopter departed Pegasus Airpark and struck a slackline between two mountains and crashed in a mountainous area south of Superior.
Date: January 4, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Coolidge Airport (P08)
Type: Cessna 150A
Injuries: 1 Serous Injury, 1 Minor injury
No Pilot Information
STRUCK POWER LINES
While operating at the Coolidge Airport the Cessna struck power lines when landing.
Date: January 7, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Prescott Airport (PRC)
Type: Beechcraft K35 Bonanza
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
LANDING GEAR UP
The airplane was conducting a touch and go when it lifted off the runway, and the gear was retracted, but the airplane fell back onto the runway with the gear up.
Date: January 9, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Phoenix Deer Vally Airport (DVT)
Type: Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The airplane was conducting a touch and go when it went off the runway and into some rocks.
Date: January 13, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Prescott Airport (PRC)
Type: Fairchild SA227-AC
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
LOSS OF CONTROL TAKING OFF
The Swearingen Metro suffered a runway excursion on takeoff for Phoenix Sky Harbor. The aircraft was accelerating down the runway when at about 65 Kts when the aircraft veered off the runway. The pilot managed to make it back to the runway, but the aircraft became disabled.
Date: January 14, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Kingman Airport (IGM)
Type: Cessna 172E Skyhawk
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
LOSS OF CONTROL TAKING OFF
The aircraft was on its takeoff roll when it veered off the runway and into the brush.
Date: January 19, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Flagstaff Airport (FLG)
Type: Cessna 320D Executive Skynight
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE
The Cessna experienced a nose gear collapse upon landing at Flagstaff.
Date: January 21, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Scottsdale Airport (SDL)
Type: Piper PA-28-181 Pilot 100i
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
STRUCK GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS
As the airplane was warming up, it inadvertently started to move and struck two parked vehicles.
Date: January 25, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Kingman Airport (IGM)
Type: Piper PA-28-181 Archer
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE
The Piper departed Mesa Falcon Field and suffered a nose gear collapse upon landing at Kingman.