Pilots previously reported near-misses, concerns about air traffic at Marana Airport
MARANA, AZ (AZFamily) — The southern Arizona airport where two planes collided mid-air over a runway, killing two people on Wednesday, has been the site of numerous close calls, according to records reviewed by Arizona’s Family Investigates.
The records come from pilots who reported being involved in near-mid-air collisions in submissions to the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). The system allows pilots to voluntarily report incidents confidentially to identify possible safety issues and contribute to aviation safety research.
Pilots at the Marana Regional Airport reported a near mid-air collision in 2017, 2020 and 2021, with two near mid-air collisions reported in 2019 and 2024.
July 2024
In July 2024, a general aviation pilot said they were bringing their plane to Marana for maintenance. The pilot noticed several planes in the pattern around the airport, noting, “it was busy.”
The pilot said that they were informed they had “cut in” under another aircraft that was practicing approaching the airport, and they were doing a “go around.” The reporting pilot reviewed online records and saw the two aircraft were 500 feet apart.
October 2024
In October 2024, a flight instructor reported a near-miss with another plane after a takeoff from Marana Regional Airport.
“I estimated we were at the same altitude less than 100 feet away,” the instructor said.
The report said the second aircraft made no radio calls and said, “When I saw them in the left window they were same altitude less than a quarter mile turning towards us fast.”
The instructor said they cut power and made an emergency descent “to avoid getting hit.”
The instructor raised concerns about the traffic in and around the airport.
“Standard practice from AVQ [Marana Regional] is to enter and exit the pattern over the cement plant to remain clear of housing. This practice however adds another layer of safety conflicts as more traffic is being funneled into one location. Increased operations with landings in-between taxiways midfield, prevent safe flights over the field.”
The instructor noted that “more awareness needs to be brought to AVQ [Marana Regional] for the heavy training and additional traffic that frequents the airport daily and the nonstandard practices for the airport.”
Pilots responsible for the airspace
The Marana Regional Airport does not have an air traffic control tower, leaving it up to pilots to manage traffic as they maneuver in and out of one of the busiest regional airports in the state.
In a statement given to our sister station KOLD 13 News by an instructor with the Marana Flight School, they said: “Marana airport is a busier airport that is non-towered so there are more near misses than there should be. They don’t have the staffing to monitor the radios and assist traffic control.”
Tower planned for airport
An air traffic control tower is in the works for the busy Marana Regional Airport. According to the airport’s website, construction is set to begin in 2027.
The airport was initially approved for a control tower in 2019, 13 News reported. The project was long delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Associated Press.
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