[06/04/01] The two crop-duster pilots whose planes collided in mid-air over a Sharkey County cotton field Saturday died when their planes hit the ground, autopsy results showed.

Sharkey County Coroner Ola Mae Holmes said Monday that the results of the autopsies, which were completed Sunday at Mississippi Mortuary in Rankin County, indicate Bob Golitz, 54, of Anguilla, and Brad Cummins, 25 of Rolling Fork, died of multiple internal injuries.

Deputy coroner Cathy Yelverton, who was present for the autopsy, was not available for comment Monday morning.

Lt. Stanley Coleman, an investigator for the Sharkey County Sheriff’s Department, said Saturday that a witness reported that the two crop dusters were flying over the same field in Cameta Plantation north of Anguilla when the accident occurred.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were also investigating the crash, which was reported at about 8 a.m.

John Lovell, the initial investigator of the NTSB, said he could not comment on the investigation because the investigation was turned over to another agent, who could not be reached.

The FAA did the initial investigation because the planes were used for agriculture, Lovell said.

Funerals will be Tuesday and Wednesday for the two lifelong Sharkey residents.

Golitz, for whom services are planned Wednesday in Rolling Fork, owned and operated Anguilla Flying Services and Bob and Michaels Carpet Cleaning Services.

He received his pilot’s license at 16 years old, before receiving his driver’s license, said Doug Huskey, funeral director for Glenwood Funeral Home.

Services for Cummins, a graduate of AG Flight Training School in Bainbridge, Ga., and an employee of Nicks Flying Service Inc. of Rolling Fork, will be Tuesday, also in Rolling Fork.