The community of Marana, Arizona, continues to grapple with the aftermath of a tragic mid-air collision that occurred last month. According to the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) preliminary report, the accident involved a Cessna and a Lancair airplane clashing at the Marana Regional Airport. FOX 10 Phoenix reported that images captured by surveillance show the critical moments before the fatal encounter. The report included the flight instructor’s announcement over the radio about their intent to execute a short field landing and takeoff, just before noticing the approaching Lancair aircraft.
The collision claimed the lives of the two individuals aboard the Lancair, identified by the Town of Marana as 70-year-old Michael Reinath and 76-year-old Linda Gifford. In stark contrast, the pilot and student occupying the Cessna emerged without serious injuries. Eyewitness accounts, as stated in a report by Marana police, describe hearing the pilots arguing moments before the crash, with one stating, “You cut me off.” These accounts were further corroborated by the AZ Family, adding another layer of immediacy to the investigation’s unfolding narrative.
Marana Regional Airport lacks an air traffic control tower, so pilots are responsible for communication. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the collision, with early findings showing the Cessna was performing landing maneuvers when the Lancair, piloted by Reinath, called off its landing. Witnesses on the ground, including a police officer, saw a large fire erupt from the ditch where the Lancair crashed…