Accident
While landing at the uncontrolled West Houston-Lakeside Airport, a Cessna N96957 and a Mooney N231QB collided midair. Both aircraft were in the landing flare at the time of the collision.
Aircraft and Flight Paths
The Cessna was conducting touch-and-go landings in the rectangular traffic pattern. The Mooney was returning from an instrument training flight and was executing a straight-in approach. The Mooney was above and overtaking the Cessna.
Collision Sequence
The Mooney's propeller struck the Cessna, severing its empennage. The Cessna then nosed upward into an inverted attitude and struck the tail of the Mooney before crashing onto the runway. The Mooney made a safe landing.
Pilot Statements
A second pilot in the Mooney later stated that the Mooney pilot was high and slipped the aircraft for the majority of the final approach, preventing the second pilot from seeing forward and downward. The Mooney pilots did not note the announced position of the Cessna in the traffic pattern or a warning from another pilot that there were two aircraft landing.