Two individuals tragically lost their lives in a mid-air collision involving two small aircraft near Marana Regional Airport in southern Arizona on Wednesday morning. This incident took place around 8:30 a.m. close to Avra Valley and Sandario roads, just off Interstate 10.
The collision involved a Cessna 172S, a four-seat single-engine plane, and a Lancair 360 MK II, a two-seat single-engine kit aircraft. Each plane had two occupants onboard, and while two people perished in the crash, the other two managed to escape with only minor injuries.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the collision, drawing attention to the fact that Marana Regional Airport functions as an uncontrolled field. This means that the airport does not have an active Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, requiring pilots to communicate their positions using a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency. Experts emphasize that effective communication among pilots is essential, particularly in environments without ATC oversight.
Devin Starr, owner of 5 Starr Aviation, expressed concerns regarding the busy atmosphere of the airport, especially given its activity with training flights. “Communication among pilots is key,” he remarked, indicating that both aircraft should have been in sync in their operations to avoid such tragedies.
Historical data signifies ongoing safety concerns at Marana Regional Airport; there have been seven reported instances of near-mid-air collisions over the past decade, including two within the previous year. A project aimed at constructing an ATC tower has been delayed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, leaving the airport operations less supervised.
Furthermore, Marana Regional Airport has a history of fatal incidents. Notably, in April 2000, a U.S. Marine Corps Osprey helicopter crash resulted in the deaths of 19 servicemen; and in March 2002, a collision involving a civilian plane and the Army’s Golden Knights parachuting team resulted in another tragic loss.
As investigators work to uncover the circumstances surrounding this recent crash, the tragic loss of life highlights the importance of improving safety measures and communications among pilots, especially at uncontrolled fields. The hope is that lessons learned from this incident can lead to enhanced protocols, reducing the likelihood of such devastating events in the future.