19991211037019A

(.19) On December 11, 1999, about 1645 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N607FT, registered to and operated by Florida institute of technology, and a Cessna 152, N48823, registered to and operated by mitchell enterprises, inc., collided while on final approach to land at the Plant City airport, Plant City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR part 91 instructional flight of the Piper airplane, no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR part 91 instructional flight of the Cessna airplane; none was required. The Piper and the Cessna airplanes sustained minor damage and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant of the Piper airplane was not injured. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the student pilot of the Cessna airplane also were not injured. The flight of the Piper airplane originated about 45 minutes earlier from the melbourne regional airport, melbourne, Florida. The flight of the Cessna airplane originated about 15 minutes earlier from the Plant City airport, Plant City, Florida. The pilot of the Piper airplane was on the first leg of a solo cross-country flight into the Plant City air port. The student pilot of the Cessna airplane was performing touch-and-go landings on runway 10 at the Plant City airport. The pilot of the Piper airplane reported that he entered the downwind for runway 10 from a 45-degree entry, making his radio call. He reported hearing a pilot in a Cessna airplane announce turning base to final for a full stop landing on runway 10. He observed a Cessna on final approach to runway 10, announced his turn to base and while on the base leg, observed a Cessna land on runway 10. He announced his turn onto final approach, and observed that a Cessna that had landed on runway 10, taxied off the runway. He continued his approach and then heard an unidentifiable comment over the radio. He then felt a "bump" and noticed that control column input was not effective. He noticed after landing that his airplane was higher than usual and then noticed after the airplane came to rest, that his airplane was on top of a high wing airplane. He secured the engine and electrical system, exited the airplane, and observed that the two occupants of the Cessna airplane did not appear to be injured. According to the operator of the Cessna airplane, witnesses repo rted hearing a pilot in his airplane announce the legs in the traffic pattern. The student pilot of the Cessna airplane reported that the flight was remaining in the traffic pattern performing soft field landings. She was flying behind another Cessna type airplane and after that airplane turned onto final, she turned onto the base leg. She stated that after she turned onto final approach, she could see that the Cessna that was ahead, was turning off the runway. She called that she was on final approach and heard the pilot of another airplane report that being on final approach as well. She responded with the call sign of the airplane and "do you see this Cessna on final", to which the pilot responded yes. She continued the approach and after crossing the airport boundary fence, the aircraft collided. Her flight instructor took the controls and landed the airplane on the grass adjacent to the runway. (-23) a/c was in pattern practicing takeoffs/landings. While on short final, N607 ft inbound to runway 10 and also on final, landed on top of N48823. The a/c became entangled and they landed intact, in tandem.