Oct. 23, Wenatchee, Wash. / Cessna 172P and Vans RV-6A

At 13:20 PDT, a Cessna 172P and an RV-6A collided in mid-air about six miles east of Pangborn Memorial Airport. Both aircraft received minor damage but the two occupants of the Cessna and the pilot of the RV-6A were uninjured. The Cessna had departed from Wenatchee about one hour prior to the collision for the local instructional flight and the RV-6A had just taken off from Wenatchee. The Cessna was on the VOR-A approach to Wenatchee, inbound on the 285 degree radial and near the final approach fix. The instructor was just about to announce their location and intentions on the Unicom frequency. The pilot of the RV-6A reported that he had announced his departure from runway 30 on Unicom, made a right turn and headed east, climbing for 9,500 feet. The pilot said he suddenly saw the Cessna directly ahead and in his flight path. He pushed the nose down hard in a rapid descending right turn. The left wing tip of the RV-6A came up and collided with the bottom side of the Cessnas right wing tip. Both aircraft landed at Wenatchee without further incident.