by Jim Timm
The following are the reports of aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona from Late February through March.
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 report is a bit limited in content because the FAA content was very limited. There were eleven accidents reported, and fortunately we didn’t have any fatalities reported.
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: February 21, 2026
Source: ASN, NTSB
Location: San Carlos Indian Reservation Near Rocky Junction
Type: Cessna Cardinal 177B
Injuries: 2 Minor Injuries
No Pilot Information
UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES
The aircraft was enroute and crashed under unknown circumstances.
Date: February 21, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Near Parker
Type: Ryan Navion A
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
LOSS OF POWER
The airplane made an emergency landing at an abandoned racetrack due to engine issues.
Date: March 1, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Carefree Airport (18AZ)
Type: American Champion 8 GCBC Denali Scout
Injuries: 1 Minor Injury
Private Pilot
BECAME INVERTED DURING LANDING
The airplane applied too much brake on landing and became inverted.
Date: March 2, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Casa Grande Municipal Airport (CGZ)
Type: Lindstrand 260A Balloon
Injuries: 13 Uninjured, 1 Minor Injury
Commercial Pilot
BALLOON HIT A SMALL HILL
The hot air balloon made contact with a hilltop and then landed safely in a field. The pilot and twelve passengers were not injured, and one passenger sustained minor injuries.
Date: March 4, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT)
Type: Piper PA 28-140
Injuries: 2 Minor Injuries
Student Pilot
PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER
After departure from Deer Valley the aircraft climbed eastbound for 4 miles, and then abruptly turned left, and because of a partial loss of power initiated a descending track back towards the airport. The airplane hit the roof of a house and came to rest against a second house 2 miles east of the airport.
Date: March 9, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Near Littlefield, AZ
Type: Denney Kitfox 4-1200 Classic IV
Injuries: 2 Minor Injuries
No Pilot Information
CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN
The Kitfox light airplane departed Saint George Regional Airport (SGU), Utah, and experienced a downdraft and impacted terrain near Littlefield in Mohave County, AZ.
Date: March 10, 2026
Source: ASN Location: Near San Manuel
Type: Cirrus TRAC20 G7 (Cirrus SR20)
Injuries: 1 Uninjured Commercial Pilot
LOSS OF POWER
A Cirrus SR20 (marketed as a TRAC20 model for flight schools) was en route from El Paso to Phoenix Goodyear at 11,350 ft when the aircraft experienced engine issues and the pilot pulled the CAPS airframe parachute.
Date: March 13, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Near Wilcox
Type: Cessna 182J Skylane
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
FUEL LEAKAGE
The airplane departed Phoenix Deer Valley Airport and the pilot reported a fuel leak, and landed on a gravel road near Wilcox.
Date: March 13, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Flagstaff Airport (FLG)
Type: Cessna T182T Skylane
Injuries:1 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
TIRE BLEW OUT
The airplane departed Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, and upon landing at Flagstaff the nose wheel tire blew out and the airplane went off the runway.
Date: March 13, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ)
Type: Piper PA 28-181
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
WENT OFF THE RUNWAY
The aircraft went off the runway and hit a runway edge light.
Date: March 15, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Cottonwood Airport (P52)
Type: Cessna 177B Cardinal
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
PILOT INDUCED OSCILLATIONS
The airplane porpoised on landing, and post flight inspection revealed damage to the fuselage.