12News Meteorologist and Pilot Unpack Mid-Air Crash Insights in Arizona

PHOENIX — A midair collision involving two small planes near Marana Regional Airport resulted in the deaths of two individuals on Wednesday morning, according to authorities.

Federal air safety investigators reported that both aircraft had two passengers onboard at the time of the crash. While one plane managed to land safely, the other crashed near a runway and subsequently caught fire. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation.

The Marana Police Department confirmed that no medical assistance could be provided to the two victims, who were in the downed aircraft, while the other plane’s occupants escaped unharmed.

Neither the Lancair nor the Cessna 172 involved in the incident was based at Marana Regional Airport, as per statements from town officials. This accident follows another recent incident in Scottsdale that claimed the life of one pilot in a private jet crash involving a business aircraft.

Chris Dunn, a commercial pilot and 12News Meteorologist, has previously flown at Marana Regional Airport. He noted the airport’s lack of a control tower, emphasizing that many U.S. airports share this characteristic. Dunn likened the situation to navigating a four-way stop, where it’s up to pilots to communicate and establish their positioning around the airport.

“It’s very common for flight training to occur at Marana, especially for large flight schools in Phoenix,” Dunn explained. He indicated that midair collisions often happen during good weather conditions, as seen in this unfortunate incident.

As investigators analyze the crash, they will consider key points, such as whether the two pilots were on the same radio frequency and if they were aware of each other’s positions in the airport’s airspace. Despite these inquiries, Dunn highlighted that sometimes accidents occur without a clear reason.

“Sometimes it’s just a tragic coincidence that two airplanes meet in the sky at the same time,” he remarked.