The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary findings into a fatal midair plane collision in North Collins.
Three people were killed in the crash. Paul Rosiek of Hamburg and Kathleen and Richard Walker of Eden.
Rosiek and Richard Walker were both licensed pilots. Rosiek was piloting a Cessna and Walker was flying a Piper.
The NTSB says witnesses reported seeing the Piper fly into another the Cessna that had taken off earlier, shearing off the first plane's tail before both planes crashed.
The two planes were the first of six to take off for a group outing to St. Mary's, Pennsylvania, where the group planned to have breakfast.
The NTSB says the first plane, a Cessna, left before the others because it was slower and needed more time to reach the destination. The Piper followed.
Both pilots had more than 700 flying hours each.
The probable cause of the crash will be determined by a five-person NTSB panel.
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