Amateur-built EXPRESS accident near Lakeland, Florida, April 20, 1998
On April 20, 1998 at about 5:50 pm local time, a amateur-built EXPRESS, registered N12EX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland-Linder Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing flare/touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1998 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · Lakeland-Linder Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EXPRESS
- Registration
- N12EX · no longer on the register · serial 12
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he applied power during his round out on landing in an effort to remain in ground effect. His airplane was gaining on another airplane to his front. As he added power the airplane veered to the left off the left side of the runway. The airplane experienced a loss of directional control, collided with a ramp sign, taxi way light, bounced over an intersection, touched down in the grass, slid into a ditch, and a postcrash fire ensued.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 198 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 198 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OCF Ocala FL at 5:20 pm
- Destination: LAL FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9L, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 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.
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.