New info on mid air crash at Avra valley airport / Marana airpark AZ

[Maverick]

A few weeks ago a mid air between a Cessna and a Lancair happened at the airport. CAVU conditions at the time. Neither plane was based there. The Lancair went down near the runway and the 2 inside died. The Cessna landed safely and both occupants were uninjured.

The field is uncontrolled and gets use from the locals as well as a commercial Airline Pilot training school in Phx, mostly at night. There was a parachute operation there when I had my plane there in the late 90's and early 2000's.

I've had a similar situation happen twice when I was flying. One of the parachute planes cut me off in the pattern and a Cessna pulled out onto the active when I was on short final in my Comanche. IMO this place is overdue for a tower.

https://www.azfamily.com/2025/03/12/witness-pilots-were-yelling-each-other-before-fatal-mid-air-crash-marana/

[Baloo]

Pretty wild, you'd think something like this would occur back when flying was the wild wild west...apparently it still is at this airport   

[Busher]

I agree that a Control Tower might have helped to prevent this accident. But courteous pilots using proper Unicon procedures can often organize traffic as well as ATC can... so did this GA airport have a mandatory Unicom; published traffic patterns; a normally significant number os airplanes in the pattern?

I retired from flying in 2010 so forgive the questions - things change - but with the fiscal trend, I suspect there are no "bucks" for new controlled GA airports.

[icepac]

Pilots misbehave often at uncontrolled fields.   

I operated the unicom while working for dulles aviation at W10 (manassas) and saw behavior that would never occur at a controlled airfield.

[DmonSlyr]

There were no CCTV or any cameras at the airport?

So the way I'm reading it. The Lancair cut off the Cessna and then the Ceasna clipped the lancairs tail with the prop as they were both trying to land?

[AKIron]

My first solo was in a Piper Tomahawk at the Clovis NM airport in '79. As I was taking off a plane dropped a few parachutists near the end of the runway. The instructor later seemed impressed I went around them. What did he think I would do, run over them?

[Busher]

My first solo was in a Piper Tomahawk at the Clovis NM airport in '79. As I was taking off a plane dropped a few parachutists near the end of the runway. The instructor later seemed impressed I went around them. What did he think I would do, run over them?

Maybe they were immigrants so that's what surprised him.

[AKIron]

Maybe they were immigrants so that's what surprised him.

That's both political and disrespectful to me but I'll let it slide. Of course if a moderator decides to take some points from ya don't blame me.

[Busher]

That's both political and disrespectful to me but I'll let it slide.

That's so surprising that you actually picked up on the intent.

[AKIron]

I respected the rule changes here made many years ago banning politics and etc... but am now wondering if moderators patrol the boards on the alert for rule violations or if reports must be made before points are assessed. Anyone? If it is a rule violation asking or answering such a question I humbly accept due punishment.

(My suspicion is that moderators are free to act either way. Pronounce with a hard E please)

[AKIron]

That's so surprising that you actually picked up on the intent.

Also disrespectful. Do you not care for rules?

[Busher]

Also disrespectful. Do you not care for rules?

After the years of politically biased Bull***t ( most often esxpressing admiration of some blonde dude)  I have seen in this forum I think you might admit that disrespect for others is running rampant and not limited to this micro community.

[AKIron]

Wanting to engage with those with whom you disagree is natural for most of us. I didn't make the rules and don't enforce them.

[Meatwad]

Seems posts are fine until a crybaby reports them after their feelings are hurted

[Oldman731]

Wanting to engage with those with whom you disagree is natural for most of us. I didn't make the rules and don't enforce them.

So while you two are having your fun, I thought that the moral of this tragedy is that when you mess with the lowly 172, you can get your tail cut off.

The guy in the Lancair was old enough (and apparently wealthy enough) to extend his base leg while the student pilot landed.  Now look what he did.

- oldman