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This Beechcraft Debonair was completely totaled following a crash just east of the San Manuel Airport. (Parrish Traweek photo)
A Tucson pilot was lucky to walk away from a plane crash on Saturday, April 13, near the San Manuel Airport.
According local pilot/flying instructor Parrish Traweek and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, the pilot lost power and went down in the desert area about 500 feet north of the San Manuel Archery Range. Traweek said he had received a call about a crash and drove out to the area to locate the site. Because of the remote area of the crash, Traweek said he had a friend take off from the airport to circle the crash and lead him to it.
Traweek said when he arrived at the crash site, he found the pilot standing on the wing of his downed aircraft. The pilot had sustained some minor injuries including a broken nose. Traweek said the pilot was unfamiliar with the area and didn’t know exactly where he was in relation to the airport. He had a friend from Tucson fly out to help look for him as well.
The plane, which Traweek said was a “high performance” Beechcraft Debonair, was nose down in the desert area, it’s landing gear stripped. Traweek said the plane was destroyed. Salvage crews arrived the next day and cleaned up the site.
“The guy was a good pilot,” Traweek said, commenting that the accident could have been worse.
The pilot was transported to the University Medical Center. The crash was turned over to FAA and NTSB.
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