Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lakeland, Florida 33811
Monday, April 20, 1998 13:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing flare/touchdown.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/20/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1350
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LAKELAND
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33811
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LAKELAND-LINDER REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LAL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 142
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LAL
Elevation of weather observation facility 142
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 63
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 20 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1352
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:10AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N12EX
NTSB Number MIA98LA138
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Kaas
Aircraft Model EXPRESS
Aircraft Series Identifier EXPRESS
Aircraft Serial Number 12
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 198
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DENNIS T. KAAS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4060 PEACHTREE CORNERS CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City NORCROSS
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30092
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OCF
Departure City OCALA
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1320
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code LAL
Destination City
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9L
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --