What happened
On the day of the accident, a Rockwell 690A, registration N707BP, was performing a straight-in approach to establish a downwind leg for runway 19 at an uncontrolled airfield. Approximately 20 miles southeast of the airport, the crew of the Rockwell made a single radio transmission requesting an airport advisory. Simultaneously, a Piper PA-28R, registration N33056, had departed from runway 19, though no radio communications were recorded from this aircraft.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the Rockwell traveling in a northerly direction while the Piper was moving eastward. Just prior to the impact, observers noted that the Piper performed a steep bank and a sudden pitch-up maneuver. The collision took place roughly 2 miles east-southeast of the airport site. The impact resulted in six fatalities, as there were no survivors from either aircraft.
Findings
Physical evidence from the scene indicated that the left main landing gear tire of the Piper PA-28R struck the underside of the outboard left wing of the Rockwell 690A. The force of the impact was evidenced by paint transfer from the Rockwell onto the wing skin of the Piper. The sudden maneuvering of the Piper aircraft immediately preceding the collision was a key observation by those on the ground.