The Cessna aircraft, N4745U, departed from runway 32 at the Municipal Airport, Wharton, Texas, on a northbound flight, about two minutes ahead of the Piper aircraft, N1038U. About 10 minutes later the two aircraft experienced a mid-air collision about 16 nautical miles north-northwest of the departure airport. Evidence revealed that the Cessna was overtaking the Piper at the time of impact. Initial contact occurred while the longitudinal axes of the two aircraft were about parallel and their magnetic headings were near the same. The longitudinal centerline of the Piper was slightly above and slightly right of that of the Cessna, however, it was moving slightly left in relation to the Cessna's flight path. Upon impact the Cessna pitched up and over the Piper. However, its weakened fuselage (due to numerous slashes from the Piper's left propeller) folded and separated. The separated section remained under the Piper's left wing throughout the remainder of the accident sequence.