Accident Sequence
The pilot of a Piper PA-31 aircraft had canceled his IFR flight plan and subsequently entered the traffic pattern for runway 26 on a crosswind leg. As he entered the pattern, he did not observe any traffic on the downwind leg. While on downwind, the pilot visually cleared the area below and to his right. Upon looking up and forward, he saw a Cessna 152 directly in front of him, also on the downwind leg for runway 26.
In response, the PA-31 pilot pulled up and turned to the right. However, the left landing gear and underside of his aircraft struck the empennage of the Cessna 152, destroying it. The Cessna subsequently descended in an uncontrolled manner and impacted the ground.
Aftermath
The PA-31 pilot was able to land his aircraft, but the left landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. The aircraft came to rest on the runway.