# Accident 20230317007732A: Navion NAVION A, Mesa, AZ, March 17, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 17, 2023, 12:45 local time
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Airport: Falcon Fld
- Damage: Destroyed
- Collision: Midair collision
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.4600° N, 111.7300° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4600&lon=-111.7300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N610, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N610-2023-09-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Navion NAVION A (registry code 6150104, https://openairdocs.org/model/navion-navion-a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental E185 series (registry code 17014, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NAVION NAVION A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR E185 SERIES
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 16,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA129) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230317007732A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRMAN WAS IN FORMATION FLIGHT WITH THREE OTHER AIRCRAFT. THE AIRMAN WAS NUMBER FOUR OF THE FORMATION AND POSITIONED ON THE FAR LEFT OF THE GROUP. THE FORMATION BEGAN A LEFT TURN AND THE AIRMAN LOST SIGHT OF THE GROUP AND DESCENDED AWAY FROM THE FORMATION. THE AIRMAN ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN HIS POSITION CLOSER TO THE FORMATION AND CAUSED A COLLISION WITH THE NUMBER THREE AIRCRAFT. THE NUMBER FOUR AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE NUMBER THREE AIRCRAFT IN SEVERAL PLACES BEFORE BREAKING OFF THE FORMATION. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE ABLE TO LAND AT THE NEAREST AIRPORT.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N2504U, Yakovlev YAK 52: no report for this aircraft; [N2504U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2504U) is registered now

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR23LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA129), Mar 17, 2023: Navion Navion A (N610), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot of the Ryan Navion’s failure to maintain visual sight of and clearance from another airplane during a formation flight, which resulted in a mid-air collision.

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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