by Jim Timm
The following are the reports of aviation accidents/incidents that have occurred in Arizona from mid-April through mid-May.
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 about the same length as last month, and there were ten accidents/incidents reported.
In continuing with the expanded scope of this report, we’re using information from the Aviation Safety Network (ASN), NTSB, FAA and APA Members. Hopefully the information from these sources will suit our purpose for 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: April 12, 2026
Source: ASN, FAA, NTSB
Location: In Phoenix
Type: Republic RC-3 Seabee
Injuries: 3 Uninjured
Commercial Pilot
ENGINE FAILURE
The Seabee had just departed from the Hangar Haciendas Airport in Phoenix, experienced an engine failure, and made an emergency landing on busy 7th Street in Phoenix. The wing hit a fire hydrant, and the airplane sustained significant damage.
Date: April 14, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Page Municipal Airport (PGA)
Type: de Havilland DCH-6 Twin Otter
Injuries: 17 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The Twin Otter was returning after performing a sightseeing flight over the Grand Canyon, and while landing at Page Municipal Airport it veered off the runway and scraped a wingtip. The aircraft received minor damage.
Date: April 15, 2026
Source: ASN, FAA Incident
Location: Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ)
Type: Piper PA-28-181
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The airplane experienced a runway excursion. There was no damage to airport property, and none was reported for the airplane.
Date: April 18, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Near Goodyear
Type: Bell 407 Helicopter
Injuries: 4 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
ROTOR CHIP INDICATION
The helicopter pilot reported a tail rotor chip indicator light and landed 8 miles west of the airport.
Date: April 21, 2026
Source: ASN, FAA Incident
Location: In Mesa
Type: Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee C
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
Commercial/CFI Pilot
ENGINE ISSUE
An engine power issue forced the plane to make an emergency landing on Main Street in Mesa. No damage or injuries involved.
Date: April 25, 2026
Source: ASN, FAA Incident
Location: Prescott Airport (PRC)
Type: Cessna 172S
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
Private Pilot
LOSS OF CONTROL TAXIING
The Cessna was performing a touch and go on runway 21L when it turned too tight and struck a taxiway light.
Date: April 27, 2026
Source: ASN
Location: Prescott Regional Airport (PRC)
Type: Piper PA-46T-310P Malibu
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The Piper Malibu Jet PROP DLX departed the Pecos City, Texas Airport, and when landing at Prescott Regional Airport the Malibu experienced a hard landing followed by a propeller strike during the landing attempt. They departed the side of the runway and ended up in the grass between two RWY exit taxiways.
Date: April 28, 2026
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Camp Verde
Type: Zenith CH750
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
POWER FAILURE
The airplane experienced an engine failure and landed in a park in Camp Verde.
Date: April 28, 2026
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Mesa Falcon Field
Type: Cessna 172
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
Commercial Pilot
POWER FAILURE
The aircraft had an engine failure shortly after takeoff, and returned to the RWY in the opposite direction, made a hard landing, blew both tires, and stopped the aircraft in the RWY overrun area.
Date: April 29, 2026
Source: ASN, FAA
Location: Near Young
Type: Bell 407 Helicopter
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING OFF AIRPORT
While making an off airport landing on a mountaintop near Young, the tail rotor struck a tree causing substantial damage to the helicopter.
Date: May 5, 2026
Source: ASN, FAA
Location: Queen Creek Pegasus Airport (5AZ3)
Type: Lancair IV
Injuries: 1 Uninjured Private Pilot
GEAR UP LANDING
The Lancair IV landed gear up on the runway and slid off the side of the RWY and into the grass.
Date: May 5, 2026
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Phoenix Deer Valley (DVT)
Type: Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAXI TEST
While conducting a high speed taxi test the aircraft went off the RWY and into some rocks. Airport operations were notified to assist the aircraft.
Date: May 10, 2026
Source: ASN, FAA
Location: Near Superior
Type: Cessna 150 Aerobat
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
POWER FAILURE
The Cessna 150 had departed Mesa Falcon Field and later had a power failure and sustained substantial damage following a forced landing on US 60 near Superior.
Date: May 11, 2026
Source: FAA Incident
Location: Casa Grande Municipal Airport (CGZ)
Type: Cirrus SR20
Injuries: 3 Uninjured
No Pilot Information.
FOD ON RUNWAY
The aircraft reported striking FOD on the runway upon landing which resulted in minor damage.
Date: May 12, 2026
Source: ASN, FAA
Location: Sedona (SEZ
Type: Cirrus SR20
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
No Pilot Information
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The airplane departed Mesa Falcon Field, and while landing at Sedona the airplane went off the runway and sustained substantial damage.