Boeing A75 and Boeing A75 mid-air collision near Marana, Arizona, March 2, 1991
On March 2, 1991 at about 7:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing A75 (N803RB) and Boeing A75 (N68486), were involved in a mid-air collision near Marana, Arizona. No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE LEAD AIRPLANE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN THE TRAILING AIRPLANE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE LEAD AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1991 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing A75 · all A75s on the register
- Registration
- N803RB · registry record · serial 75-1668
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing A75 · all A75s on the register
- Registration
- N68486 · no longer on the register · serial 75-7842
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing A75 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS OF TWO BOEING A75 AIRPLANES WERE PRACTICING FORM UPS FOR AN AIR SHOW. BY PRE-ARRANGEMENT, THE LEAD PILOT ENTERED A RIGHT 20 DEGREE BANK AND BEGAN TURNING. THE PILOT WHO WAS IN TRAIL WAS SUPPOSED TO PASS BENEATH THE LEAD AIRPLANE'S RIGHT SIDE AND FORM UP ON THE LEAD AIRPLANE'S LEFT SIDE. DURING THE CROSSING MANEUVER, THE PILOT OF THE TRAILING AIRPLANE LOST SIGHT OF THE LEAD AIRPLANE AND PULLED UP PREMATURELY, COLLIDING WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAD AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing A75 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS OF TWO BOEING A75 AIRPLANES WERE PRACTICING FORM UPS FOR AN AIR SHOW. BY PRE-ARRANGEMENT, THE LEAD PILOT ENTERED A RIGHT 20 DEGREE BANK AND BEGAN TURNING. THE PILOT WHO WAS IN TRAIL WAS SUPPOSED TO PASS BENEATH THE LEAD AIRPLANE'S RIGHT SIDE AND FORM UP ON THE LEAD AIRPLANE'S LEFT SIDE. DURING THE CROSSING MANEUVER, THE PILOT OF THE TRAILING AIRPLANE LOST SIGHT OF THE LEAD AIRPLANE AND PULLED UP PREMATURELY, COLLIDING WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAD AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Boeing A75 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,750 hours in all; 7,500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 11,200 as pilot in command; 4,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Schwan Sales Ent. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: E14 Tucson AZ at 6:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Boeing A75 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 2,800 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Schwan Sales Ent. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: E14 Tucson AZ at 6:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.