# Accident 20180118008062A: Marana, AZ, January 18, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 18, 2018, 17:30 local time
- Place: Marana, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Collision: Midair collision
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4367° N, 111.2254° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Marana, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4367&lon=-111.2254&mi=10
- Aircraft: NONE (not matched to a registry record)
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180118008062A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AN UNREGISTERED EXPERIMENTAL SIX CHUTER SPIRIT LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT AND AN UNREGISTERED EXPERIMENTAL DESTINY LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AFTER A MID-AIR COLLISION AND SUBSEQUENT IMPACT WITH THE GROUND IN MARANA, ARIZONA. THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT OF THE DESTINY RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT OF THE SIX CHUTER WAS NOT INJURED.

THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT, CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISION OF 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT, WHICH ORIGINATED FROM A DIRT RUNWAY.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OF THE SIX CHUTER AIRCRAFT, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT HE HAD RECEIVED A FEW HOURS OF FLIGHT TRAINING, BUT HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY FORMAL TRAINING TOWARDS A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE. AFTER EXPERIENCING A FEW HOURS AS A PASSENGER IN A POWERED PARACHUTE AIRCRAFT HE WAS INVITED TO FLY THE SIX CHUTER WHILE HIS UNCLE, AND OWNER OF BOTH AIRCRAFT, FLEW THE DESTINY. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE SIX CHUTER PILOT, PILOT A, TURNED TO THE EAST WHILE CRUISING AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. HE OBSERVED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PILOT B, ON A NORTHERLY COURSE AND DECIDED TO MAINTAIN HIS ALTITUDE AND HEADING, BUT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THEN TURNED TO THE WEST ON A DIRECT PATH TOWARDS THE SIX CHUTER. MOMENTS LATER THE SIX CHUTER COLLIDED WITH THE PARACHUTE OF THE DESTINY, WHICH BOUND THE SIX CHUTER'S PROPELLER. THE SIX CHUTER SPUN 180° AND DRIFTED AFT AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. THE RIGHT SIDE CABIN OF THE DESTINY IMPACTED THE GROUND AFTER THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND RAPID DESCENT WITHOUT A PARACHUTE. PILOT A REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR ANOMALIES THAT COULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATION PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF POWER.

PHOTOGRAPHS FURNISHED BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOWED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURAL TUBING OF BOTH AIRCRAFT.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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