Incident Overview
A midair collision occurred between a Piper PA-32 (registration N82419) and a Mitsubishi MU-2 (registration N74FB) approximately 2 miles from Greenwood Municipal Airport at an altitude of 2,100 feet MSL. The collision took place just outside and to the east of the Indianapolis Airport Radar Service Area (ARSA).
Flight Paths
The MU-2 had just taken off from Greenwood Municipal Airport and had reported to ATC in anticipation of receiving an IFR clearance, but had not yet been identified on radar. Its track was 066°. The PA-32 was en route to the same airport and had been receiving ATC radar services, which were terminated 3 miles from the airport. Its track was 174°.
Occupants and Outcome
The passenger/pilot on the PA-32 took control of the aircraft and was able to execute a controlled landing. All five occupants aboard the MU-2 were killed.
Probable Cause
The inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept of separation of aircraft operating under visual flight rules that precluded the pilots of the MU-2 and the PA-32 from recognizing a collision hazard and taking actions to avoid the midair collision. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the failure of the MU-2 pilot to use all the air traffic control services available by not activating his instrument flight rules flight plan before takeoff. Also contributing to the cause of the accident was the failure of both pilots to follow recommended traffic pattern procedures, as recommended in the airman's information manual, for airport arrivals and departures.