Two people were killed in a midair collision between two small aircraft at Marana Regional Airport in Arizona on Wednesday morning, CNN reported. The crash occurred at approximately 8:28 a.m. local time when a Cessna 172S and a Lancair 360 MK II collided near the airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that the planes collided while flying upwind of runway 12. The Cessna managed to land safely, but the Lancair crashed near another runway, triggering a post-impact fire.

The Marana Police Department confirmed the fatalities, with both planes carrying two people each. However, the conditions of the individuals involved were not specified. The airport has been temporarily closed while authorities investigate the cause of the collision. Marana Airport Superintendent Galen Beem expressed condolences, stating that this was an unprecedented event for the town and airport, and praised the quick response from local emergency services.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) explained that Marana Regional Airport is an uncontrolled field without an air traffic control tower. Pilots operating at such airports communicate using a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency, which allows them to announce their positions to nearby aircraft. Though not subject to the same regulations as major air carriers, pilots are still required to adhere to all federal aviation rules.

An NTSB investigator is expected to arrive at the scene on Thursday to document the crash and examine the wreckage, with the FAA also responding to the incident. This crash adds to a series of aviation incidents in recent weeks, starting with a midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, which resulted in 67 fatalities. Several other crashes, including a medevac plane crash in Philadelphia and a crash near Alaska’s Nome, have raised concerns over aviation safety.

Despite these recent accidents, preliminary NTSB data for January shows that flight incidents involving both private and commercial aircraft remained relatively low. However, small aircraft are statistically more prone to accidents, as they are subject to less stringent regulations than commercial aircraft under Part 121 rules. Nonetheless, they still undergo inspections and maintenance to ensure safety.

Sources:

• CNN
• The Financial Times