NTSB Releases Details of Florida Midair Collision

The airspace where the collision occurred does not require the use of radios or pilot communication, NTSB said.

Thursday, March 09, 2023 at 04:50 PM ET

Verified

According to an NTSB preliminary investigation, the J-3 Cub was in a normal corridor for approach to land on the lake, while the Piper Cherokee was performing a short approach to Runway 29 at Winter Haven Regional Airport. [Credit: Foreflight]

Key Takeaways:

A midair collision in Winter Haven, Florida, killed four people, with a preliminary NTSB investigation suggesting both a Piper Cherokee and a J-3 Cub were attempting to land at nearby locations.
The Cherokee was conducting a "short approach" to an airport runway, while the Cub was approaching a seaplane base. The Cherokee pilot self-announced, but the Cub pilot did not, possibly due to the aircraft type (J-3 Cub often lacks a radio) and the Class Echo airspace not requiring communication.
NTSB investigators are focusing on the impact angle and potential blind spots caused by the aircrafts' differing wing designs (low-wing Cherokee, high-wing Cub) as they analyze the wreckage.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The midair collision between a Piper Cherokee and a J-3 Cub on floats that killed four people in Winter Haven, Florida, Tuesday may have occurred when both aircraft were attempting to land, according to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary investigation.

According to NTSB, the pilot of the Cherokee, which was operated by Sunrise Aviation on behalf of Polk State College, was attempting to land on Runway 29 at the Winter Haven Regional Airport (KGIF). The pilot of the J-3 Cub was attempting to land at Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base (F57).