At least two people have died following a collision between a Lancair 360 and a Cessna 172 Skylane at Marana Regional Airport in Southern Arizona. The incident occurred on Wednesday, marking the second fatal plane crash in the state within two weeks.
The Marana Police Department confirmed their presence at the scene and stated that both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are en route to investigate. “The Marana Police Department is currently on-scene at the Marana Regional Airport located at 11700 W. Avra Valley Rd. in reference to an aircraft collision. There has been at least 1 confirmed deceased individual. Details are limited at this time,” they announced.
Blake Phillips from Tucson’s KGUN 9 reported that two fatalities have been confirmed, although it remains unclear if others involved sustained injuries. The crash reportedly took place just before 08:30.
Marana Regional Airport operates without an air traffic control tower, meaning pilots must use a common frequency to communicate with each other. Plans for a new tower were delayed due to the pandemic, pushing completion from late 2024 to 2029.
Greg Sendlak, Project Manager at Public Works’ Capital Improvement Division, noted delays in constructing the tower due to environmental assessments and design processes impacted by COVID-19. “We were already 18 months behind,” he explained last November.
Marana Regional Airport was initially accepted into the FAA’s Federal Contract Tower Program in 2019 but had to reapply due to pandemic-related setbacks. It was readmitted in March 2024, allowing for a revised timeline with expected completion by 2029.
Efforts continue to gather more information regarding this tragic event.
