Flugzeugbau EA-300L and Navion Navion B mid-air collision near Lakeland, Florida, April 6, 2002
On April 6, 2002 at about 8:54 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Flugzeugbau EA-300L (N125EX) and Navion Navion B (N5335K), were involved in a mid-air collision near Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland-Linder Regional airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Extra 300L pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout resulting in a midair collision while landing. Contributing to the accident was the Extra pilot's failure to follow written instructions contained in a NOTAM, and ATC instructions resulting in the Extra pilot making an approach to the wrong runway.
The Extra 300L pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout resulting in a midair collision while landing. Contributing to the accident was the Extra 300L pilot's failure to follow written instructions contained in the NOTAM, and ATC instructions resulting in the Extra pilot making an approach to the wrong runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 2002 · about 8:54 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · Lakeland-Linder Regional · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Flugzeugbau EA-300L
- Registration
- N125EX · registry record · serial EA-300L
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Navion Navion B · all Navion Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5335K · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-2235B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Flugzeugbau EA-300L final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Extra 300L pilot tuned up the ATIS information for the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, conducted the Lake Parker arrival, and entered a left downwind for runway 09 left. The Navion pilot entered a right downwind for runway 09 right at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, and was on landing rollout when he felt his airplane being pushed forward and heard a loud crash towards the rear of his airplane. The Extra 300L pilot heard the controller state, "keep it rolling" and followed the Navion airplane that was landing on runway 09 right. As he was getting close to the ground, he heard an impact off the right side of his airplane. He looked and observed the two Navion occupants looking towards him, and realized that his airplane had collided with the Navion.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Navion Navion B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Extra 300L pilot tuned up the ATIS information for the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, conducted the Lake Parker arrival, and entered a left downwind for runway 09 left. The Navion pilot entered a right downwind for runway 09 right at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, and was on landing rollout when he felt his airplane being pushed forward and heard a loud crash towards the rear of his airplane. The Extra 300L pilot heard the controller state, "keep it rolling" and followed the Navion airplane that was landing on runway 09 right. As he was getting close to the ground, he heard an impact off the right side of his airplane. He looked and observed the two Navion occupants looking towards him, and realized that his airplane had collided with the Navion.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Flugzeugbau EA-300L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,196 hours in all; 75 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 30, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 323 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2001; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,095 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-L1E5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CST Cross City FL at 7:30 pm
- Destination: LAL Lakeland FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09R, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from LAL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Navion Navion B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 156 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 105 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 11, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,605 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 2001; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 40J Perry FL at 6:03 pm
- Destination: LAL Lakeland FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09R, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.