What happened
During a scheduled cargo operation traveling from Detroit to Kansas City, a C-46 was involved in a mid-air impact with a private Piper Aztec, registration N5628Y. The collision occurred while both aircraft were in flight.
Immediately following the contact, both aircraft lost stability and entered an uncontrolled descent. The planes struck the ground in an open field situated in Columbia City. The accident resulted in three fatalities, as the pilot of the Aztec and both crew members aboard the C-46 perished in the crash.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary factor in the accident was the mid-air collision itself. This event was driven by the crew's failure to maintain sufficient visual separation to prevent the impact.