SHARONVILLE, Ohio -- Two small airplanes collided yesterday over suburban Cincinnati, raining debris onto roads and backyards and killing three people on board, federal investigators said.

Two of the victims were aboard a Cessna 172, and their identities were withheld pending notification of relatives. The pilot of the other plane, a Beechcraft Bonanza, was identified as Neils Harpsoe of suburban West Chester. Both of the aircraft are small, single-engine planes that are used extensively by hobbyists.

The Federal Aviation Administration had no information about the pilots' flight plans or why the aircraft were so close. Under federal regulations, the pilots were responsible for maintaining a safe distance on a clear, sunny afternoon.

Blue Ash Airport, a runway used by small planes, is several miles away. State Highway Patrol Lt. Wayne Price said investigators assume both planes took off there.

The planes' pilots were not required to file flight plans and apparently were not in contact with air-traffic controllers, the FAA said.

No injuries were reported on the ground in the suburb of 14,000 people. Several vehicles and one house had minor damage. The planes crashed about 3 p.m. at two sites in an area with several well-traveled highways that were closed while investigators looked for debris.

"I'm just thankful it wasn't worse than it was, with school buses and people coming home from work and the interstate that we have nearby," said Michael Schappa, Sharonville's police chief.

Investigators asked anyone who saw the collision or found pieces of the planes to notify them.

Based on witness accounts, the FAA initially said a helicopter might have been involved. The agency later said the two planes were involved.

What appeared to be a piece of a wing rested against a guardrail on a heavily traveled highway near the crash sites. A police car with lights flashing blocked the piece of wreckage for investigators while vehicles drove past.

"It's scary to think of something like that happening so close," said 71-year-old Margaret Hardesty, who lives about a block from where one of the planes crashed. "It could have landed on any of these houses."

Joe Muenks said wreckage from one of the planes fell in a yard about three blocks from his house.

"It took out about a third of a tree," Muenks said.

What remained of the other plane landed on a two-lane road that was free of traffic at the time. The two planes narrowly missed a freeway that was clogged with traffic just before rush hour.