2 people who died following mid-air collision in Marana identified
MARANA, Ariz. - Two people are dead following a midair plane collision at an airport northwest of Tucson, police said on Feb. 19.
What we know:
The Marana Police Department says the crash happened on Feb. 19 at the Marana Regional Airport, located near Avra Valley and Sandario Roads.
"Two confirmed dead and both planes were smaller fixed wing single engine planes," police wrote in a Facebook post.
Per a separate statement, officials with the Federal Aviation Administration say a Lancair collided midair with a Cessna 172 just before 8:30 a.m. Two people were on board each plane.
On March 6, officials with the Town of Marana released a statement on their website, identifying the crash victims as 70-year-old Michael Reinath and 76-year-old Linda Gifford.
Expert Perspective:
"You could compare it to a Lamborghini or a Corvette: a really hot sports car, where the Cessna 172 is a much more docile airplane. Slower aircraft. More like a family car," said pilot and aviation expert Reed Yadon.
Yadon said unlike the Lancair, the Cessna is primarily used to train pilots.
"It can get out in front of you if you’re not careful. You need quite a bit of log book time before you can even get insurance for it. They want someone with experience flying that airplane. It will cruise at over 200 miles a hour, so that’s an example of just the speed difference. The landing speed on the Lancair is much greater than the 172," said Yadon.
The National Transportation Safety Board believes the planes collided while the Cessna was attempting to land. Per authorities, the two people who died were onboard the Lancair plane.
Dig deeper:
According to the FAA, the Marana Regional Airport is an "uncontrolled field," meaning the airport does not have an operating control tower.
"Pilots utilize a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) to regularly announce their position to other pilots who are in the airport vicinity," the FAA said. "The Pilot-in-Command is responsible for maintaining safe separation from other aircraft. Pilots operating into uncontrolled fields are still required to comply with all Federal Aviation Regulations, including minimum visibilities, minimum safe altitudes, and right-of-way rules."
This is also not the only air crash in Arizona recently: last week, one of two pilots died on a private jet owned by Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil after the aircraft veered off a runway in Scottsdale and hit a business jet.
What's next:
In about a week, the FAA could come out with its preliminary report on the crash. It will take about a year and a half before officials reveal the cause of the crash.