Casualties unknown

Airplane Collides with Terrain During Approach (N6243P)

Lakeland, FL, US

On April 12, 1996, a Piper PA-24-250 (registration N6243P) was involved in an aviation accident near Lakeland, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (Vs) while turning on approach from base to final resulting in an inadvertent stall. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

Witnesses observed an airplane on a tight downwind leg with slow airspeed, pitching nose up and down on base leg, overshooting the turn to final, then entering a left turn with 90-degree wing drop and collision with terrain.

Observations

Multiple witnesses reported observing an airplane in the traffic pattern for landing. The aircraft was noted to be on a tight downwind leg, and its airspeed appeared slower compared to other airplanes in the pattern. While on the base leg, the nose of the airplane was observed pitching up and down repeatedly.

Accident Sequence

During the turn from base to final, the airplane overshot the intended final approach path. The pilot initiated a left turn, estimated by witnesses to be between 35 and 45 degrees of bank. Subsequently, the left wing dropped to a 90-degree angle relative to the horizon, resembling a stall condition. The nose then pitched down, and the airplane continued to descend until it collided with the terrain.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X05628. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.