A tragic midair collision involving two small planes occurred in southern Arizona on Wednesday morning, resulting in the loss of two lives, as confirmed by authorities. The incident took place at Marana Regional Airport, located on the outskirts of Tucson, where each plane had two individuals on board at the time of the collision. The National Transportation Safety Board reported that a Cessna 172 landed safely, while a Lancair 360 MK II crashed near a runway and caught fire.
Marana Police Department verified that the two fatalities were from one of the aircraft, with responders unable to provide medical assistance. The Cessna involved belonged to AeroGuard, a commercial flight training school, whose pilots escaped unharmed. Both planes were not based at the Marana airport, and the municipal fire department assisted in extinguishing the resulting flames.
AeroGuard expressed deep sorrow over the tragic accident and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. The incident follows a recent plane crash in Scottsdale and several other aviation disasters in North America, including a fatal midair collision in Washington, D.C., and a commuter plane crash in Alaska.
Marana airport, which operates without an air traffic control tower, was in the process of constructing one before facing delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the absence of a control tower, pilots communicate intentions using a designated radio channel and are responsible for maintaining visual awareness to prevent collisions.
Jeff Guzzetti, an airline safety consultant and former FAA and NTSB investigator, emphasized the importance of pilots broadcasting on a common traffic advisory frequency and practicing vigilance to avoid accidents. While most U.S. airports lack control towers, adherence to established communication protocols and vigilant flying practices contribute to overall aviation safety.
