Plane crash-lands in Goodyear after residents voiced safety concerns

A two-passenger plane crash-landed in the Via Villa community, which is located south of I-10 in Goodyear Saturday, just a few miles north of Phoenix Goodyear Airport.

The city of Phoenix owns and operates the airport housed in the city of Goodyear.

Authorities said the Cessna 172 P departed from Glendale Airport and began losing oil pressure soon after taking off.

The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport when the engine lost power and aircraft was put down down on the street about 8:30 a.m. Feb. 10.

The plane leaked about five gallons of fuel "which was quickly mitigated by the fire department," a release stated.

The Federal Aviation Administration will be investigating to determine the cause.

No individuals were harmed in the incident. The plane struck a parked vehicle in its landing approach, according to Goodyear police. According to the city of Goodyear police, the plane experienced mechanical problems.

Resident concerns

The Airport just south of the incident, Phoenix Goodyear Airport, was recently named the single busiest runway in the nation. Goodyear city councilmembers have also stated previously that the airport is seen as a logistical hub for the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.

Residents north of I-10 in the Palm Valley community have voiced some consternation about the air traffic in the areas north of the airport.

Chiefly, low-flying aircraft and noise concerns have grown as traffic has increased, according to resident testimony at previous city council meetings. Residents and licensed pilots have also voiced concern about safety.

According to Goodyear resident and pilot Paul Wegeman at city meetings, he and his neighbors have detailed unsafe flight practices from the airport that haven’t been addressed.

 “We have documented planes routinely flying well north of McDowell Road, often dangerously below 1,000 feet above ground and as low as five to 600 feet,” he said. “Therefore, they’re flying over a rooftop or tree even closer than that. This violates minimum safe altitudes.”

According to FAA minimum flight safety standards, “aircraft may not operate closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure” in other than congested areas. That standard is 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle in a congested area of a city, town, or settlement. The city of Goodyear is the eighth fastest-growing city in America, according to its site.

Goodyear resident Bryan McCarty also said at previous city meetings, the year-to-date general aviation operations at Phoenix Goodyear Airport increased 88% from 70,020 to 132,000 operations in 2022. McCarty said he believes that number is expected to surpass 200,000 in 2023.

Residents in the Palm Valley community are slated to address the Phoenix city council Feb. 21 about the noise and safety concerns from the airport operated and owned by Phoenix in Goodyear.