Picture credits: KGUN 9 X (@BlakePhillipsTV)
Arizona: A midair collision between two fixed-wing single-engine planes occurred on Wednesday morning near Marana Regional Airport, northwest of Tucson, Arizona. Authorities confirmed that two people lost their lives in the incident.
The collision took place at approximately 8:28 a.m. and involved a Cessna 172S and a Lancair 360 MK II, each carrying two occupants. The Cessna landed safely, while the Lancair crashed near runway 3 and caught fire.
The Marana Police Department stated that the two fatalities were aboard one aircraft. AeroGuard, the flight training company operating the Cessna, confirmed that its two pilots were unharmed. Emergency responders were unable to provide medical assistance to the victims due to the severity of the crash.
“On behalf of the Town of Marana and Marana Regional Airport, we extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy,” said Airport Superintendent Galen Beem. “This is an unprecedented incident, and we are grateful for the swift response from the Marana Police Department and Northwest Fire District.”
Marana Regional Airport operates without an air traffic control tower, requiring pilots to use a common traffic advisory frequency for coordination.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the incident. Preliminary findings indicate that neither aircraft was based at the airport.
This accident is part of a series of recent aviation incidents in the U.S., marking the seventh air disaster within three weeks.
Marana Regional Airport, also known as Avra Valley Airport, is a public facility owned by the Town of Marana.
It covers 630 acres and has two asphalt runways: 12/30 (6,901 feet) and 3/21 (3,892 feet).
The airport recorded 90,252 aircraft operations in the past year, averaging 247 daily flights.
The Marana Regional Airport is temporarily closed as the investigation continues.
Follow Aviation Today to stay up-to-date with aviation updates!
