Incident Details
A mid-air collision occurred between a Cessna 152, registration N4603L, and a Cessna 172, registration N733HV, approximately 2 miles north of the airport. The Cessna 152 was being flown by a student pilot, who was departing from runway 25. The Cessna 172 was arriving from the north.
Sequence of Events
After taking off from runway 25, the student pilot executed a right climbing turn toward the north. Subsequently, the pilot began another turn to the east, in accordance with published VFR procedures. While the Cessna 152 was in the turn and climbing through 800 to 900 feet MSL, it collided with the Cessna 172. Radar information showed that the Cessna 172 was on a southerly heading at the time of the collision.
Witness Information
There was no full-time UNICOM operator at the airport. However, a pilot waiting at the UNICOM station reported hearing the Cessna 172 pilot call turning downwind for runway 25.
Aftermath
Following the collision, the pilot of the Cessna 152 made an emergency landing on rough terrain. The Cessna 172 went out of control and impacted the ground in a steep descent. Examination revealed that approximately 8 feet of the Cessna 172's right wing had separated and was found jammed beneath the Cessna 152's left wing and strut. There was evidence that the Cessna 152 converged on the Cessna 172 from the direction of the sun. The pilot of the Cessna 152 did not see the Cessna 172 and believed that the Cessna 172 pilot was not using a 45-degree entry.