What happened
Approximately 50 fish spotting aircraft were operating in the vicinity of Boulder Bay, circling while waiting for the opening of the herring fishing season. Each pilot was working in coordination with their respective fishing vessels; however, the pilots were not in communication with one another.
During these operations, a Piper PA-18, registration N6966D, and a Cessna 305A, registration N5193G, converged and collided. The pilot of the N6966D reported that he had been in level flight at 1,200 feet, traveling between 85 and 88 knots for approximately one mile when the impact occurred. Just prior to the collision, the pilot observed the Cessna approaching from his left rear quarter, positioned slightly low and in a slight left bank.
Following the collision, the N5193G went out of control and crashed into mountainous terrain. The pilot of the N6966D was not injured and managed to land the aircraft successfully, though the plane sustained damage to its fuselage and its float and strut system.