At 1505 eastern time, a Piper PA-16 a Betts RV-6A collided in mid-air while on approach to runway 27R at Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport during Sun n Fun. The Piper pilot was seriously injured and the RV-6 pilot was killed. The local controller said the RV-6 was in front of the PA-16 on the downwind and on base. He saw the PA-16 overtaking the RV-6 and twice instructed the RV-6 to sidestep to runway 27 left, but the pilot did not respond to his instructions. He then told the PA-16 pilot to climb and he did not respond to the instructions.
April 05, Lakeland, Fla. / Piper Clipper and RV-6A
At 1505 eastern time, a Piper PA-16 a Betts RV-6A collided in mid-air while on approach to runway 27R at Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport during Sun n Fun. The Piper pilot was seriously injured and the RV-6 pilot was killed. The local controller said the RV-6 was in front of the PA-16 on the downwind and on base. He saw the PA-16 overtaking the RV-6 and twice instructed the RV-6 to sidestep to runway 27 left, but the pilot did not respond to his instructions. He then told the PA-16 pilot to climb and he did not respond to the instructions....
Key Takeaways:
- A Piper PA-16 and a Betts RV-6A collided mid-air on approach to runway 27R at Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport during Sun n Fun.
- The collision resulted in the death of the RV-6 pilot and serious injuries to the Piper pilot.
- The local controller observed the PA-16 overtaking the RV-6 and issued instructions to both aircraft—to sidestep for the RV-6 and to climb for the PA-16—but neither pilot responded.
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