Overview
A mid-air collision occurred between a Cessna 402 and a Decathlon aircraft while both were operating under visual flight rules (VFR) in the vicinity of active airports. The incident involved a Cessna 402 in a cruise descent and a Decathlon in level flight. Neither pilot aboard the Cessna 402 reported seeing the Decathlon before the collision, which struck the Decathlon on its right wing.
Flight Details
Both aircraft were flying under VFR in an area with active airports. The Cessna 402 was executing a cruise descent, while the Decathlon maintained level flight. According to the pilots of both aircraft, they were preoccupied with watching a military C5A transport aircraft operating in the same area prior to the collision. The Decathlon pilot took evasive action to avoid a head-on collision.
Collision
The Decathlon was struck on its right wing by the Cessna 402. The pilots of the Cessna 402 reported hearing an explosion in the nose area of their aircraft. Neither pilot in the Cessna 402 recalled seeing the Decathlon before the impact.
Aftermath
Following the collision, the crew of the Cessna 402 elected to return to Teterboro Airport. They landed uneventfully approximately 20 minutes after the incident. No further details about the condition of the Decathlon or its occupants were provided in the source.