Couple of friends piloted air planes that crashed in New York, killing 3

Authorities said two small air planes that collided and crashed in western New York were piloted by friends who’d taken off with four other planes for their usual weekend outing.

Authorities said two small air planes that collided and crashed in western New York were piloted by friends who’d taken off with four other planes for their usual weekend outing.

Two small air planes that collided and crashed in western New York were piloted by friends(Representative image/Shutterstock)

Both pilots and one passenger were killed in the crash in North Collins on Sunday morning. Erie County authorities identified the victims Monday as 60-year-old Paul Rosiek (ROH’-zehk), of Hamburg, and Richard and Kathleen Walker, who were both 69 and lived in Eden.

An investigation is underway into what caused Rosiek’s Cessna 120 and the Walkers’ Piper Cherokee to collide after leaving Hamburg Airport en route to St. Marys, Pennsylvania. Authorities say they were part of a group that routinely flew together on Sundays.

The National Transportation Safety Board says a preliminary report is expected within 10 days.