Amateur-built S/R accident near Lakeland, Florida, April 10, 1988
On April 10, 1988 at about 8:10 pm local time, a amateur-built S/R, registered N82RC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Municipal airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1988 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · Lakeland Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S/R
- Registration
- N82RC · registry record · serial O-540-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN IN FLIGHT FIRE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHILE PERFORMING ACROBATIC MANEUVERS AT AN AIRSHOW. THE AIRCRAFT IS EQUIPPED WITH A PUMP THAT INJECTS OIL INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM TO PRODUCE A VISIBLE SMOKE TRAIL WHEN VAPORIZED BY THE EXHAUST GASES. THE PILOT FAILED TO TURN THE PUMP OFF WHILE DOING AN INVERTED SPIN. HE ATTRIBUTED THE FIRE TO THE IGNITION OF SMOKE OIL THAT HAD ACCUMULATED IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AT THE LOW POWER SETTINGS USED IN THE INVERTED SPIN. THE FIRE WAS VISIBLE STREAMING FROM THE ENGINE BACK TO THE EMPENNAGE. THE COCKPIT FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE AFT LOWER FUSELAGE FABRIC WAS BURNED AWAY. THE PILOT HAD A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF THE RUNWAY BEFORE TURNING OFF THE FUEL AND ATTEMPTING TO LAND. HE THOUGHT HE PASSED OUT BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON THE AIRPORT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 748 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 692 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 160 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 7, 1988; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:04 pm from LAL
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.
Other NTSB records under N82RC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.