Mooney M20C accident near Lakeland, Florida, April 1, 2003
On April 1, 2003 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N2652W, suffered minor damage in an accident near Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Linder Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate visual lookout of the pilot and the ground marshaller resulting in the ground marshaller being struck by the wing of the taxiing airplane and receiving serious injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2003 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · Lakeland Linder Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2652W · registry record · serial 3308
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he landed on runway 9 left and taxied west on taxiway "D". As he approached the intersection of taxiway "D" and runway 5-23, he encountered a ground marshaller waving 2 orange wands. The ground marshaller was standing such that the left wingtip would clear him by 18 inches. The marshaller, who was facing east, began waving his wands and back stepping to the west. As the marshaller was positioned at the airplanes 10:30 position, he, the marshaller, turned 180 degrees toward the west and bent down from the waist. His back was toward the wing and his face was down toward the pavement. The marshaller continued walking toward the west and turned his head to face another marshaller. The pilot turned to face the direction the airplane was taxing. He then heard a loud bang and the airplane rotated to the left about 15 degrees. He immediately countered with right rudder and turned left onto runway 5-23 and stopped. He looked back and saw the ground marshaller on the ground parallel to runway 5-23, with his head facing the approach end of runway 5.The ground marshaller stated N2652W approached the point he was working, runway 5-23 and taxiway "D". The sign on the airplane indicated the pilot was going to aircraft camping. He signaled him through the intersection, straight ahead. He had eye contact with the pilot and the pilot acknowledged his signal. The ground marshaller stated he turned 110-130 degrees to signal the motorcycle rider that the aircraft was going to aircraft camping. At this point, he was struck and became unconscious. A witness stated the airplane was moving at a normal taxi speed as it approached the intersection of runway 5-23 and taxiway "D". The ground marshaller made signal contact with the pilot and determined the pilot's destination. The marshaller made a 90-degree turn to tell the witness, who was on a motorcycle, where to lead the airplane. The ground marshaller's back was to the airplanes outboard left wing. As the airplane continued taxiing, the left wing struck the ground marshaller in the back, knocking him forward. The left wing then struck the ground marshaller in the back of the head, knocking him to the ground. Another witness stated the marshaller read the sign on the windshield on N2652W to verify the airplanes destination and then flagged the airplane on by. She heard the pilot give the engine excess throttle and then the airplane appeared to veer to the left. The marshaller had already began to turn and walk away when the left wing of the airplane hit him on his right side from the back. He was sent tumbling across runway 5-23.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,935 hours in all; 1,835 in this make and model; 1,759 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AID (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRQ Sarasota FL at 8:45 pm
- Destination: LAL Lakeland FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9L, 8,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from LAL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.