20000215041392A

(.19) On February 15, 2000, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-236, N8264G, was substantially damaged during a midair collision with a Cessna 172M, N1742V, near parkertown, Ohio. The 172M sustained minor damage. The certificated commercial pilot of the Piper, and the certificated commercial pilot and passenger in the Cessna were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed for the personal flights conducted under 14 CFR part 91. According to the pilot of the Piper, he departed the loraine county regional airport (lpr), lorain, Ohio, for a local flight. The pilot stated that while level at 3,300 feet, and heading in a northerly direction, he was looking to his left when he felt a bump. Assuming that he had hit a bird, the pilot returned to lpr and landed uneventfully. Examination of the airplane revealed a tire mark on top of the fuselage and damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot did not recall seeing the Cessna before or after the accident. According to the pilot of the Cessna, he departed from the Griffing Sandusky Airport, Sandusky, Ohio, about 1415. As the airplane was climbing through 3,300 feet for a final cruise altitude of 3,500 feet, about 2 miles north of norwalk, city, Ohio, the pilot noticed a vertical fin just slightly to the right of the engine. The pilot stated that "there was no time to take action, there was a slight uplifting and bang!" After impacting the airplane, the Cessna rolled to the left about 45-60 degrees and the pilot felt that he might not recover. The pilot rolled the wings leval and looked out the left side of the airplane to see where the airplane he hit had gone, but saw nothing and assumed that the airplane had crashed. With the passenger door torn off of the airplane, the pilot was now concerned with getting the airplane on the ground and began to fly towards the norwalk-huron airport (5A1), norwalk, Ohio. En route to 5A1, the pilot began assessing the damage to his airplane by checking the tail, working the controls, and to see if he had wheels. After determining that the airplane "felt good", the pilot elected to not land at 5A1 and continued flying to his home base, galion airport (gqq), galion, Ohio. Arriving at gqq, the pilot flew over the airport several times for ground personnel to determine if the airplane's wheels were still intact, then landed uneventfully. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed shards of airplane aluminum skin and glass embedded in the bottom of the fuselage. The Piper's rudder counterweight was found in the baggage compartment of the Cessna. (-23) aircraft N8264G, Piper dakota, was level cruise flight at 3700' MSL heading north. Purpose of flight was engine break-in after maintenance. Aircraft, N1742V, Cessna 172, was on a pleasure flight, had just departed Sandusky (sky) airport was climbing to altitude for a return flight to galion (gqq) airport heading 180. The Cessna saw a vertical fin just prior to impact, felt a "bump" and felt the cold air rush in the cabin as the passenger door had been thrown from the aircraft. He was 2 mi. North of norwalk (5A1) airport and was in a position to land but decided the aircraft was "holding together" and he did not mind the wind. He had no problem holding altitude, so returned to the galion, the home airport and landed on the active runway.