Introduction
A mid-air collision occurred between a Cessna 207A, registration N800GA, and a Short SC7, registration N451SA, near a remote airstrip without a control tower. The incident took place approximately 1.49 nautical miles east-northeast of the airstrip and about 18.3 miles west of their common destination.
Sequence of Events
The pilot of the Cessna 207A was returning to his company base and was passing approximately 2 miles north of the airstrip along the route of flight. The pilot of the Short SC7 announced his departure from the same airstrip on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and took off in a northerly direction. He then began a climbing right turn toward the same destination as the Cessna. The two airplanes collided in mid-air.
Observers reported seeing both aircraft spiraling downward from about 800 feet above ground level.
Wreckage
Both airplanes were found lying flat and upright on a frozen lake, entangled together at the accident site. The Cessna's burned wreckage was lying on top of and positioned toward the aft third of the burned wreckage of the Short SC7.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident was inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in their failure to see and avoid each other's airplanes.