Aeronca Aircraft Face Mid Air Collision

An air collision near Norrisvllle, Pennsylvania, at approximately 1025, April 4, 1948, resulted in fatal injuries to Arden C. Meredith, pilot, and his passenger, Francis P. Meyers. Both aircraft, Aeronca 7AC's, were owned by the Holt Flying Service, Meadville, Pennsylvania. Aeronca NC 82122, flown by Meredith, was demolished while Aeronca NC 82619 was only slightly damaged and its pilot, Fred C. Byham, escaped injury. About 0925 Pilot Byham took off from Port Meadville and proceeded to an area designated for air work located several miles NNW of the airport. At an altitude between 2,000 and 3,500 feet, he practiced stalls, spins, and other maneuvers.

At approximately 0950 Pilot Meredith and his passenger also departed Port Meadville. About 1020 both aircraft were observed flying in a southerly direction at a point approximately two miles north of Norrisville Corners or about seven miles NNW of Port Meadville. Pilot Byham stated that he was returning from his practice area to Port Meadville flying at about 2,000 feet altitude when suddenly the plane operated by Meredith appeared coming up under his right wing in what he described as an attitude as if making a loop. Statements of witnesses indicate that the Meredith plane had been doing stalls, spins, and related maneuvers in the area for some time prior to the accident and immediately preceding the accident, while at a slightly lower altitude, made a sharp right turn ending in a steep pull-up which terminated in the collision. The left wing of Meredith's plane struck the right wing of Byham' s, following which Meredith's plane crashed out of control. Byham, although his plane was damaged, was able to make a safe emergency landing in a field not far from the scene. Parachutes were not worn by occupants of either aircraft.