American 8KCAB and Flugzeugbau EA-300 accident near Leesburg, Florida, February 9, 2001
On February 9, 2001 at about 2:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, American 8KCAB (N123WA) and Flugzeugbau EA-300 (N301NL), were involved in the same accident near Leesburg, Florida (Leesburg Regional airport). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot of N123WA and the failure of both pilots of N301NL to adequately insure visual separation between their aircraft and other aircraft in the landing pattern, resulting in a runway collision. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilots of both aircraft not using the correct UNICOM/CTAF frequency, and the pilot of N123WA executing a landing approach that conflicted with the traffic pattern entry recommended by the Aeronautical Information Manual for airports without operating control towers.
The failure of the pilot of N123WA and the failure of both pilots of N301NL to adequately insure visual separation between their aircraft and other aircraft in the landing pattern, resulting in a runway collision. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilots of both aircraft not using the correct UNICOM/CTAF frequency, and the pilot of N123WA executing a landing approach that conflicted with the traffic pattern entry recommended by the Aeronautical Information Manual for airports without operating control towers
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 2001 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Leesburg, Florida · Leesburg Regional · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- American 8KCAB
- Registration
- N123WA · registry record · serial 726-94
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Flugzeugbau EA-300
- Registration
- N301NL · registry record · serial 067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the American 8KCAB final · quoted from the NTSB record
Leesburg Municipal Airport has no operating control tower. The Decathlon conducted a long straight-in approach to Leesburg's runway 13 while the Extra 300 was conducting practice landings from a left traffic pattern. A ground collision occurred between the Decathlon's empennage, and the Extra's propeller/spinner and wing leading edge as the Decathlon was in its decelerating ground roll and the Extra was in the latter stage of its landing flare. The forces imparted to the Decathlon caused it to become airborne, nose high, and execute a roll about its longitudinal axis. The aircraft came to rest on the runway, inverted. The Extra under ran the Decathlon, commenced a skid, and sheared its right wheel/brake assembly. Both aircraft were substantially damaged, and the Decathlon pilot received minor injuries. Numerous witnesses stated they heard no radio calls on the proper UNICOM/CTAF frequency from either aircraft. The UNICOM/CTAF frequency had been changed from 122.7 to 122.725, and was properly displayed in the Southeast Airport/Facility Directory, (A/FD) effective November 30, 2000. The Aeronautical Information Manual, Chapter 4, " Air Traffic Control", recommends for traffic operations at airports without an operating control tower, (1) Enter pattern in level flight, abeam the midpoint of the runway, at pattern altitude. (1,000' agl is recommended pattern altitude unless established otherwise...), (2) Maintain pattern altitude until abeam approach end of the landing runway on downwind leg, (3) Complete turn to final at least 1/4 mile from the runway.
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 Flugzeugbau EA-300 final · quoted from the NTSB record
Leesburg Municipal Airport has no operating control tower. The Decathlon conducted a long straight-in approach to Leesburg's runway 13 while the Extra 300 was conducting practice landings from a left traffic pattern. A ground collision occurred between the Decathlon's empennage, and the Extra's propeller/spinner and wing leading edge as the Decathlon was in its decelerating ground roll and the Extra was in the latter stage of its landing flare. The forces imparted to the Decathlon caused it to become airborne, nose high, and execute a roll about its longitudinal axis. The aircraft came to rest on the runway, inverted. The Extra under ran the Decathlon, commenced a skid, and sheared its right wheel/brake assembly. Both aircraft were substantially damaged, and the Decathlon pilot received minor injuries. Numerous witnesses stated they heard no radio calls on the proper UNICOM/CTAF frequency from either aircraft. The UNICOM/CTAF frequency had been changed from 122.7 to 122.725, and was properly displayed in the Southeast Airport/Facility Directory, (A/FD) effective November 30, 2000. The Aeronautical Information Manual, Chapter 4, " Air Traffic Control", recommends for traffic operations at airports without an operating control tower, (1) Enter pattern in level flight, abeam the midpoint of the runway, at pattern altitude. (1,000' agl is recommended pattern altitude unless established otherwise...), (2) Maintain pattern altitude until abeam approach end of the landing runway on downwind leg, (3) Complete turn to final at least 1/4 mile from the runway.
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 American 8KCAB from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,640 as pilot in command; 724 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 123 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 29, 2000; 33.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-H2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OCF Ocala FL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: LEE Leesburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from LEE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Flugzeugbau EA-300 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,150 hours in all; 6 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 30, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 6, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 417.0 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2001; 8.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,095 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFB Sanford FL at 1:00 pm
- Destination: LEE Leesburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.