THE PLT OF AMERICAN AA-1A, N9237L, DEPARTED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, WHILE TURNING BASE, BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC TAXING ON THE RWY. HE RE-ENTER THE PATTERN ON DOWNWIND & CONTINUED, BUT DID NOT SEE A PIPER PA-38, N2333B, THAT ENTERED THE PATTERN. THE PA-38 PILOT ALSO ENTERED THE DOWNWIND AFTER RETURNING FROM A ROUND ROBIN FLT. THE AA-1A PLT SAID THAT HE WAS ON SHORT FINAL AT ABOUT 10 FT AGL, WHEN HE SAW HIS PROPELLER STIKE THE TAIL OF THE PIPER. HE SLOWED HIS ACFT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE PIPER, THEN THE AA-1A STALLED & HIT THE RWY NOSE 1ST. THE PIPER PLT SAID THAT WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN, HE HEARD A NOISE & HIS ACFT BEGAN FISHTAILING. HE WAS UNAWARE THAT HIS ACFT HAD BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER ACFT UNTIL HE WAS OFF THE RWY & ONTO A TAXIWAY.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

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