Pilot lands in Arizona desert after plane's engine bursts into flames due to mechanical failure
BUCKEYE, ARIZONA: A pilot had to perform an emergency landing in the desert, north of Tonopah due to a mechanical failure on November 25 night.
Crews from the City of Buckeye Fire Department were dispatched in response to reports of an aircraft crash on Wickenburg Road around 6 pm.
Buckeye officials stated that the pilot experienced a mechanical failure, leading to a safe emergency landing.
The Arizona Fire & Medical Authority reported that the pilot incurred minor injuries during the incident.
Although the small plane caught fire, Buckeye officials confirmed that the blaze was swiftly controlled.
Another crash took life of 87-year-old pilot from Arizona
Recently on November 21, an 87-year-old pilot from Arizona, Elzie Monroe McDonald, lost his life in a plane crash while en route to Dallas for Thanksgiving.
McDonald was the sole occupant of a single-engine Mooney M20 aircraft that crashed near a diner in Plano, Texas, shortly before 6 pm.
Authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed McDonald was the only individual aboard during the crash.
The crash not only claimed McDonald's life but also caused damage to a nearby restaurant.
Reports detailed that McDonald, a resident of Aguila, Arizona, was on his way to visit relatives for Thanksgiving when the unfortunate incident occurred.
McDonald was member of exclusive aviation club
This tragic occurrence came right after McDonald's recognition by the FAA with the Master Pilot Award for his exceptional 50 years or more of safe piloting, as reported by the Wickenburg Sun.
McDonald expressed his pride at joining the exclusive 50-year club due to his commendable aviation record.
The crash site was less than half a mile from the Air Park-Dallas Airport, where the aircraft had taken off before the incident.
Investigations by the NTSB revealed preliminary findings, suggesting the plane crashed and caught fire while executing a go-around.
Dashcam footage captured moments before the crash, provided initial insights, but further details remained limited as investigators probed whether the aircraft had any data recorder or communication device, which aren't mandatory for aircraft like the Mooney M20.
The crash led to a vehicle catching fire nearby, but fortunately, there were no reported ground injuries.
These incidents highlight the unpredictability and risks involved in aviation, emphasizing the importance of thorough investigations to determine the causes behind such tragic accidents.