Incident Overview
A flight instructor and student pilot in a Cessna were conducting a practice VOR approach under instrument conditions. The Cessna was tracking inbound on a heading of 285 degrees. Approximately six miles from the airport at an altitude of about 3,800 feet, just before reaching the final approach fix, the flight instructor felt a bump. The instructor did not see what they had collided with but soon realized it was another aircraft.
RV-6A Pilot's Account
The pilot of an RV-6A reported that he had just taken off from the same airport and was climbing to cruise altitude on an easterly heading. He suddenly saw the Cessna directly ahead in his flight path. The pilot immediately pushed the nose down in a rapid descending right turn. During this maneuver, the left wing tip of the RV-6A came up and struck the bottom side of the Cessna's right wing tip.
Weather and Aftermath
Both pilots reported that the weather was clear with haze. After the collision, both aircraft returned to the airport and landed without further incident.