Incident Details
A low-wing Piper aircraft was in level flight at 3,700 feet, heading north. A high-wing Cessna was climbing through 3,300 feet to a final cruise altitude of 3,500 feet. The pilot of the Piper felt a bump and the windshield broke. Assuming a bird strike, the Piper pilot returned to LPR and landed without incident. The Cessna pilot noticed a vertical fin slightly to the right of the airplane. The Cessna impacted the Piper, and both airplanes subsequently landed uneventfully at different airports.
Examination Findings
Examination of the Piper revealed a black rubber streak on the top of the fuselage, approximately 5 degrees right of centerline, extending rearward about 4 feet. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were damaged from the top rudder hinge upward. Examination of the Cessna showed a gash in the fuselage extending from aft of the firewall to where the wing strut met the fuselage. Pieces of metal and wires were found embedded in the gash. The right-hand door was missing. A gash and white paint transfer were observed on the nose wheel tire. Inside the cabin area of the Cessna was the rudder counterweight from the Piper.