Incident Overview
A Piper PA-31, registration N200GG, was on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight to Boston, Massachusetts. The pilot contacted Boston Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) and advised that they had the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) and would be landing at Boston. TRACON suggested a heading of 070 degrees and an altitude of 2,500 feet for Runway 33R and instructed the pilot to maintain VFR.
Approximately at the same time, a student pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI) were conducting a local instrument training flight in a Cessna aircraft in the same area. The student was seated in the left seat and wore a view-limiting device.
Collision Sequence
The two aircraft converged in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and collided at an altitude of approximately 2,600 feet. At the time of impact, the Piper PA-31 was on a northeast heading, while the Cessna was on a northwest heading. During the collision, the top of the Piper's vertical stabilizer struck the lower left side of the Cessna's fuselage, injuring the student pilot's left leg and damaging the Cessna's right main landing gear.
Post-Impact Actions
Despite the damage, both aircraft landed safely. However, during the landing roll, the Cessna swerved off the runway.
Aircraft Equipment and Transponder Settings
The Piper PA-31 was squawking transponder code 4640 with Mode C (altitude reporting). The Cessna was equipped with a transponder but did not have Mode C capability. Its transponder was set to code 1200 but was actually squawking code 1270. The radar controller was unable to identify the Cessna as a potential conflict. There was no radio communication between the Cessna and TRACON.
Injuries and Damage
The student pilot sustained a leg injury from the impact. The Cessna's right main landing gear was damaged. Both aircraft were otherwise able to land, though the Cessna veered off the runway upon touchdown.