GILA BEND, Ariz. — One person is dead and one person is injured following a plane crash in Gila Bend.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash of an "experimental amateur built air creation twin aircraft" near Gila Bend on March 17, according to a post made by NTSB on "X," formerly known as Twitter.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the experimental aircraft crashed around 9:40 a.m. Two people were on board the plane. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said one person was airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries and one person was pronounced dead at the scene.
The deceased individual has been identified as 68-year-old William Holmes.
The NTSB and FAA will be investigating the cause of the crash, MCSO said.
As for what an experimental aircraft is, Dick Knapinski, the spokesperson for the Experimental Aircraft Association, said there are currently 30,000 registered with the FAA. He also said they are planes people can put together themselves by purchasing kits.
“People can build them in their own homes, in a hangar, in a basement, garages and so forth,” Knapinski said.
That doesn't mean they are unsafe he added. Before these planes can get into the air, they must receive an airworthiness certificate from the FAA.
"These are licensed aircraft, they are inspected aircraft and they are inspected every year or every 100 hours of flight just like big factory-built aircraft," Knapinski said.
On average, Knapinski said there are fewer than 30 fatal experimental aircraft crashes a year.
“The fatal accident rate has dropped precipitously more than 50 percent over the past 15 years,” he said.
While looking at the photos of the crash, Knapinski said it may be an Ultralight Aircraft which is categorically different than an experimental. He said they are under 254 pounds, use five gallons of fuel and can only have one person on board.
"They look like hang gliders with engines," he said.
Given that officials reported two people were on board, he said it would have to be inspected by the FAA.
When asked what the NTSB would investigate, Knapinski said it would look into the day's weather conditions, the pilot's experience and if the aircraft was licensed. He also said it could take a year before the cause of the crash is determined.
<< This story will be updated as additional information becomes available. Stay with 12News for the latest.
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