What happened
On the day of the accident, two aircraft were operating in the airspace near Plymouth, Michigan. The first aircraft, a Piper PA-28 with registration N553ly, had recently departed from Plymouth and was climbing through 1,300 feet MSL on a heading of approximately 282 degrees. At the same time, a Piper PA-60, registration N8060J, was traveling from Detroit toward Jackson, Michigan, cruising at 2,100 feet MSL on a course of 258 degrees.
As the two aircraft continued their respective paths, they converged at an altitude of 2,100 feet MSL, resulting in a mid-air collision. Following the impact, both aircraft fell to the ground. The Piper PA-28 was conducting an instrument training flight with a private pilot and a flight instructor on board. The collision resulted in one fatality, which was the pilot operating the PA-28.
Findings
An analysis of the wreckage and radar information indicated the specific geometry of the collision. The Piper PA-60 approached the Piper PA-28 from its lower, left, and forward position, while the PA-28 moved into the path of the PA-60 from the right rear. Neither aircraft had filed a flight plan, and there was no evidence that the flight crews were receiving any assistance from air traffic control or radar services during the flight.