Amateur-built 360 and Cessna 172 mid-air collision near Marana, Arizona, February 19, 2025
On February 19, 2025 at about 3:28 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built 360 (N3602M) and Cessna 172 (N463ER), were involved in a mid-air collision near Marana, Arizona (Marana Rgnl airport). 2 people were killed; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 2025 · about 3:28 pm local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona · Marana Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built 360 Mk. II, built 2001
- Registration
- N3602M · registry record · serial 941-320-781
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172 S, built 2015 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N463ER · no longer on the register · serial 172S11597
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built 360 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 19, 2025, about 0828 mountain standard time, a Lancair 360 Mk II, N3602M, was destroyed, and a Cessna 172S, N463ER, sustained minor damage when they were involved in a mid-air collision near Marana Regional Airport (AVQ), Marana, Arizona. The pilot and passenger in the Lancair were fatally injured, the student pilot and flight instructor in the Cessna were not injured. The Lancair was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The Cessna was operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor onboard the Cessna stated that the purpose of the flight was to perform a cross-country flight and departed from Chandler Municipal Airport, Chandler, Arizona. Upon arriving to AVQ, they entered the airport traffic pattern and performed a touch and go on runway 12 and remained within the pattern. During this time the Lancair entered the traffic pattern from the northwest. Upon its initial approach to runway 12, the Lancair performed a go around due to conflicting traffic and remained within the traffic pattern behind the Cessna. While the Cessna was on downwind, the flight instructor announced over the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) that they were going to do a stop and go on the runway, to perform a short field landing and a short field takeoff. The flight instructor stated that they landed uneventfully and while in the process of taking off, they heard the Lancair pilot announce on the CTAF that he was going around again. The flight instructor stated that she looked at ADS-B information displayed on her iPad and saw the Lancair converging towards their airplane from behind. As the instructor was “keying up the radio” to ask the Lancair pilot if they saw them, both airplanes collided. The flight instructor took control of the Cessna from the student and remained within the pattern for an uneventful landing on runway 12. The Lancair impacted terrain near a taxiway and became engulfed in flames. A review of airport surveillance video (see figure 1) and preliminary ADS-B data revealed that the collision between the Lancair and the Cessna occurred over the intersection of runway 12/30 and runway 3/21 at AVQ about 150 ft above ground level (AGL). Figure 1: Composite footage of a north-facing airport security camera showing the collision. Review of recorded CTAF communication (see figure 2) revealed that about 0825:14, the student pilot announced their intentions to perform a stop and go landing. At 0825:41, the Lancair transmitted “traffic on base are you a touch and go?” to which the flight instructor replied, “we are a stop and go”. At 0826:05, the pilot of the Lancair advised that they were turning left base and shortly after the student pilot advised that they were on final for a stop and go on runway 12. About 0827:51, the pilot of the Lancair advised they were on a one mile final and about 27 seconds later announced that they were “going around again”. About 0828:41, the Cessna student pilot announced that they were on the upwind, followed by the flight instructor stating “Lancair Zero Two Mike” followed by an audible gasp. About ten seconds later the Cessna declared an emergency. Figure 2: Recorded ADS-B data with CTAF communication annotations. Examination of the accident site revealed that the Lancair came to rest on a heading of 100° magnetic, upright on the edge of a drainage culvert and taxiway. The wreckage sustained significant fire damage. A small debris field was found on runway 12 and stretched over a 300 ft by 100 ft area towards the airport segmented circle and contained fragmented pieces from the left wing tip, left aileron, aileron trim tab, and outboard wing skin of the Lancair. All major structural components of the airplane were located throughout the wreckage debris path. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination. The Cessna sustained minor damage the propeller.
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 Cessna 172 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 19, 2025, about 0828 mountain standard time, a Lancair 360 Mk II, N3602M, was destroyed, and a Cessna 172S, N463ER, sustained minor damage when they were involved in a mid-air collision near Marana Regional Airport (AVQ), Marana, Arizona. The pilot and passenger in the Lancair were fatally injured, the student pilot and flight instructor in the Cessna were not injured. The Lancair was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The Cessna was operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor onboard the Cessna stated that the purpose of the flight was to perform a cross-country flight and departed from Chandler Municipal Airport, Chandler, Arizona. Upon arriving to AVQ, they entered the airport traffic pattern and performed a touch and go on runway 12 and remained within the pattern. During this time the Lancair entered the traffic pattern from the northwest. Upon its initial approach to runway 12, the Lancair performed a go around due to conflicting traffic and remained within the traffic pattern behind the Cessna. While the Cessna was on downwind, the flight instructor announced over the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) that they were going to do a stop and go on the runway, to perform a short field landing and a short field takeoff. The flight instructor stated that they landed uneventfully and while in the process of taking off, they heard the Lancair pilot announce on the CTAF that he was going around again. The flight instructor stated that she looked at ADS-B information displayed on her iPad and saw the Lancair converging towards their airplane from behind. As the instructor was “keying up the radio” to ask the Lancair pilot if they saw them, both airplanes collided. The flight instructor took control of the Cessna from the student and remained within the pattern for an uneventful landing on runway 12. The Lancair impacted terrain near a taxiway and became engulfed in flames. A review of airport surveillance video (see figure 1) and preliminary ADS-B data revealed that the collision between the Lancair and the Cessna occurred over the intersection of runway 12/30 and runway 3/21 at AVQ about 150 ft above ground level (AGL). Figure 1: Composite footage of a north-facing airport security camera showing the collision. Review of recorded CTAF communication (see figure 2) revealed that about 0825:14, the student pilot announced their intentions to perform a stop and go landing. At 0825:41, the Lancair transmitted “traffic on base are you a touch and go?” to which the flight instructor replied, “we are a stop and go”. At 0826:05, the pilot of the Lancair advised that they were turning left base and shortly after the student pilot advised that they were on final for a stop and go on runway 12. About 0827:51, the pilot of the Lancair advised they were on a one mile final and about 27 seconds later announced that they were “going around again”. About 0828:41, the Cessna student pilot announced that they were on the upwind, followed by the flight instructor stating “Lancair Zero Two Mike” followed by an audible gasp. About ten seconds later the Cessna declared an emergency. Figure 2: Recorded ADS-B data with CTAF communication annotations. Examination of the accident site revealed that the Lancair came to rest on a heading of 100° magnetic, upright on the edge of a drainage culvert and taxiway. The wreckage sustained significant fire damage. A small debris field was found on runway 12 and stretched over a 300 ft by 100 ft area towards the airport segmented circle and contained fragmented pieces from the left wing tip, left aileron, aileron trim tab, and outboard wing skin of the Lancair. All major structural components of the airplane were located throughout the wreckage debris path. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination. The Cessna sustained minor damage the propeller.
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 amateur-built 360 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 27AZ Aguila AZ
- Destination: AVQ Marana AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12/3, 6,901 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 am from KAVQ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAVQ 191535Z AUTO 11009KT 10SM CLR 11/M06 A3012 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during initial climb
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Bird Acquisition LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CHD Chandler AZ at 2:33 pm
- Destination: AVQ Marana AZ
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
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.