Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83(MD-83) incident near Apache Junction, Arizona, June 27, 2011
On June 27, 2011 at about 4:58 am local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83(MD-83), registered N416NV, was involved in an incident during approach near Apache Junction, Arizona (Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid each other and to maneuver as advised by the air traffic controller in time to prevent the conflict that resulted in the reported near midair collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2011 · about 4:58 am local time · cases in 2011
- Place
- Apache Junction, Arizona · Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport · cases near this airport
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83(MD-83) · all DC-9-83(MD-83)s on the register
- Registration
- N416NV · no longer on the register · serial 49555
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Boeing/McDonnell Douglas MD-83 and a Cessna 182 passed within 600 feet vertically and 0.36 nautical miles laterally about 6,300 feet mean sea level. The pilots of both airplanes were in contact with air traffic control. The air traffic controller followed merging target procedures as required by Federal Aviation Administration directives and provided traffic advisories in sufficient time to be useful to both pilots. However, the pilots did not maneuver their airplanes to result in diverging flight paths and the conflict and a traffic alert and collision avoidance system resolution advisory occurred. The dark night conditions may have limited the pilots’ ability to visually identify and avoid approaching the other airplane.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Ability to respond/compensate
The aircraft
- Seats: 172
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P & W JT8D-219 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P & W JT8D-219 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Allegiant Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KMLI IL
- Destination: KIWA Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N416NV: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9 93 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Mcdonnell Douglas 254 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P & W JT8D-219 22 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: P & W JT8D-219 22 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Mesa Gateway Airport · nearest airport
- Quad Cities International · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 466 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,435 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/OPS11IA686.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.