ARFF Daily News

Thursday the 20th of February, 2025

2 dead after planes collide mid-air above Tucson suburb airport

By Tianna Morimoto, Ben Bradley, Michael Raimondi, Jason Sillman, Peter Valencia, David Baker and 13 News Staff

MARANA, Ariz. (AZFamily) — Two people are dead after two planes collided mid-air near a southern Arizona airport on Wednesday morning.

The Marana Police Department responded to the scene of an aircraft crash at the Marana Regional Airport around 8:30 a.m. near Avra Valley and Sandario roads, just west of Interstate 10.

The National Transportation and Safety Board said the mid-air collision involved a Cessna 172S and a Lancair 360 MK II.

The Cessna model is described as a four-seat, single-engine plane, while the Lancair is a two-seat, single-engine kit plane or homemade aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration says two people were on board each plane.

While two died, the other two walked away from the crash without any serious injuries.

The FAA added that Marana Regional Airport is an “uncontrolled field,” meaning it does not have an operating ATC control tower, and pilots use a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to communicate with other pilots in the airport’s vicinity. Pilots flying in an uncontrolled field are still required to follow FAA regulations.

Many smaller, rural airports do not have an ATC control tower.

Devin Starr, the owner of 5 Starr Aviation in Chandler, says Marana Regional Airport can be busy with training flights for students learning to become pilots. Communication among pilots is key.

“They should have been talking to each other so both of them knew where each other was,” Starr said. “Should have been able to avoid each other if things were going well. When you’re going into an untowered (No air traffic tower) airport like that, it’s the pilot’s responsibility to plan ahead. That way, you’re not coming in blind without talking to anyone and just picking a runway and landing.”

Our Arizona’s Family Investigates team found over the last 10 years, there have been seven reports of near-mid-air collisions at this airport, including two last year.

In October, a flight instructor expressed concern that current procedures funnel traffic into dangerously close proximity.

A multi-million dollar project was underway to build a tower at the airport, but construction has been delayed since the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The airport is currently shut down as an investigation continues.

Previous deadly accidents at Marana Regional Airport

On Apr. 8, 2000, a United States Marine Corps Osprey helicopter crashed, killing 19 servicemembers.

Two years later, on Mar. 15, 2002, a crash occurred involving an elite military parachuting team, the Golden Knights. In that crash, an Army pilot died after the team collided with a civilian plane during a practice jump, the Associated Press reported at the time.

According to the AP, the Golden Knights are made up of several expert teams from the U.S. Army, including parachute teams, aircraft pilots, and people behind the scenes who handle jump logistics.

The Golden Knights are based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, but had been training at the airport located about 20 miles north of Tucson.

KOLD-TV 13 News in Tucson contributed to this report.

https://www.azfamily.com/2025/02/19/2-dead-after-2-planes-crash-marana/

FAA Clears Way for Archer Air Taxi Pilot Academy

Agency has awarded the electric air taxi manufacturer Part 141 flight training certification.

Kimberly Johnson

Archer Aviation has received FAA certification to begin Part 141 flight training operations, clearing the way for the launch of its pilot training academy and commercial operations, the electric air taxi manufacturer announced Tuesday.

The move comes months after the agency published a final rule outlining pilot training and operations of powered-lift aircraft. When announcing the special federal aviation regulation (SFAR) in October, the FAA called it the “final piece in the puzzle” for introducing powered-lift aircraft, which could begin flying passengers and cargo as soon as next year.

"With this certificate, Archer can now train and qualify pilots as part of its newly launched training academy, with plans to build a pipeline of pilots in preparation for its planned commercial air taxis services with its Midnight aircraft," the manufacturer said in a statement.

Midnight, Archer's flagship aircraft, is a piloted zero-emission model designed to fly four passengers on 20 to 50 sm (17 to 43 nm) air taxi routes, cruising at up to 150 mph (130 knots). The rapid back-to-back flights are designed to require minimal charge time between flights and be cost competitive with ground-based rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft.

The FAA presented the company with its Part 141 certificate during a ceremony at the Archer test facility in Salinas, California.

"I look forward to seeing the results of this effort in the form of talented pilots who can one day be at the controls of our Midnight aircraft," said Tom Anderson, Archer's chief operating officer for UAM. "The FAA continues to be an invaluable partner as we work together toward the safe entry of air taxis into the national airspace.” 

In June, Archer subsidiary Archer Air received an FAA Part 135 air carrier and operator certificate, and in February 2024 received its Part 145 certification allowing it to operate a repair and maintenance station.

https://www.flyingmag.com/faa-clears-way-for-archer-air-taxi-pilot-academy/

Electric airplane lands in Northeast Arkansas for the first time

By K8 Newsdesk

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (KAIT) – The first-ever electric airplane to land in Northeast Arkansas made a stop in Walnut Ridge.

According to a social media post by the city of Walnut Ridge, this is the second Beta Technology aircraft that landed in Arkansas. The plane carried 600 pounds of cargo.

Walnut Ridge has one of two charging stations in the state.

The city said the stations were installed at no cost to local taxpayers.

https://www.kait8.com/2025/02/20/electric-airplane-lands-northeast-arkansas-first-time/

NTSB Prelim: Cirrus SR22

Airplane Impacted A Barricade And Ground Equipment, Which Resulted In Substantial Damage To The Left Wing

Location: Red Oak, IA Accident Number: CEN24LA011
Date & Time: October 15, 2023, 09:51 Local Registration: N6JA
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22 Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On October 15, 2023, about 0951 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N6JA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Red Oak Municipal Airport (RDK), Red Oak, Iowa. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) information, the airplane departed Eppley Airfield (OMA), Omaha, Nebraska, at 0920 and climbed to 7,000 ft mean sea level (msl) enroute to St Louis Downtown Airport (CPS), St Louis, Illinois. 

The pilot observed icing conditions at 7,000 ft msl and requested a climb from air traffic control (ATC) to 9,000 ft msl. After climbing above the clouds into visual meteorological conditions, the pilot observed that the engine ran rough, with vibrations and engine indication fluctuations.

The pilot diverted to RDK, a nontowered airport, and flew the RNAV (GPS) Runway 5 approach. During the descent and arrival to RDK, ATC informed the pilot on multiple occasions that Runway 5 was closed. The pilot proceeded to land on Runway 5 and the airplane impacted a barricade and ground equipment, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane was retained for examination. 

FMI: www.ntsb.gov

Today in History

34 Years ago today: On 20 February 1991 LAN Chile flight 1069, a BAe-146-200, overran on landing at Puerto Williams Airport, Chile, into the sea, killing 20 occupants; 52 survived the accident.

Date: Wednesday 20 February 1991

Time: 15:24

Type: British Aerospace BAe-146-200A

Owner/operator: LAN Chile

Registration: CC-CET

MSN: E2061

Year of manufacture: 1986

Total airframe hrs: 10198 hours

Cycles: 9583 flights

Engine model: Lycoming ALF502R-5

Fatalities: Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 72

Other fatalities: 0

Aircraft damage: Destroyed, written off

Category: Accident

Location: Puerto Williams Airport (WPU) -   Chile

Phase: Landing

Nature: Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi

Departure airport: Punta Arenas-Carlos Ibañez Airport (PUQ/SCCI)

Destination airport: Puerto Williams Airport (WPU/SCGZ)

Investigating agency: DGAC Chile

Confidence Rating:  Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:

LAN Chile flight 1069, a BAe-146-200, overran on landing at Puerto Williams Airport, Chile, into the sea, killing 20 occupants; 52 survived the accident.

LAN Chile flight 1069 departed Punta Arenas Airport, Chile at 14:51 hours on a flight to Puerto Williams Airport. At 15:15 the flight was cleared for a VOR A approach to runway 26. Wind was given as 180 degrees at 4 knots. Shortly afterwards the controller radioed updated wind information of 160 degrees at 6 knots. The captain then decided to perform a direct approach and landing on runway 08. This was approved by air traffic control.

The aircraft touched down 427 m from the runway threshold (LDA 1,440 m) at a speed of 112 kt; Vref was 110 kt with a target touchdown speed of 103 kt.

The aircraft overran runway 08 and ended up in the water of the Beagle Channel.

CAUSE OF ACCIDENT (translated from Spanish):

The accident with the BAE-146 aircraft, which occurred at the Puerto Williams Airport, was caused by a failure of operation due to poor planning made by the pilot during the approach phase when he decided to change runway and misapplication of the landing phase procedure.

This, in addition to contributing factors such as weather conditions, negative slope, wet track and wind, little braking action, which led to the aircraft leaving the runway.