Tragedy struck at the Marana Regional Airport in Arizona on Wednesday morning when a Cessna 172S and Lancair 360 MK II collided in midair, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. The incident occurred at 8:28 a.m. near the airport, located just northwest of Tucson.
According to preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the two single-engine planes collided while upwind of runway 12 at the airport. The Cessna successfully landed, while the Lancair crashed and caught fire near the other runway.
The Marana Police Department confirmed the two fatalities, with two individuals on each aircraft at the time of the collision. Fortunately, the two pilots from the Cessna, who were from AeroGuard, a commercial flight training school, escaped without injuries.
The airport has been closed as investigations into the incident are ongoing. The NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are both responding to the scene to gather information and assess the situation.
Marana Airport Superintendent Galen Beem expressed condolences to those affected by the tragedy and commended the swift response of the local authorities. AeroGuard spokesperson Matt Panichas also expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives in the accident.
The incident at Marana Regional Airport adds to a series of recent aviation accidents, including a midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and several other incidents across the country. Despite these recent events, January's NTSB data indicated a record low number of airplane accidents in the US.
While commercial flights adhere to strict FAA regulations under Part 121, general aviation aircraft, like the ones involved in the Marana collision, operate under different, less stringent rules. The higher number of general aviation aircraft, coupled with less regulation, contributes to a higher likelihood of incidents involving smaller planes.
As investigations continue at Marana Regional Airport, the aviation community mourns the loss of lives and remains vigilant about safety measures to prevent future tragedies.
