What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) A high wing, gray and blue, Piper PA-16, N5293H, and a low wing, maroon, RV6A, N3333S, were preparing to land at Lakeland linder regional airport, Lakeland, Florida, along with numerous other aircraft, for the purpose of attending the sun 'n fun fly-in. Air traffic controller statements, and a working transcript of air traffic control radio transmissions indicate that the RV6A was ahead of the PA-16 on downwind to runway 27 right. The RV6A was instructed to turn base, but according to controller statements, the pilot was slow to comply with the instructed to turn base, and the RV6A was again instructed to fly straight to the numbers. Controller statements indicate that the RV6A and the PA-16 were not going to be able to land on runway 27 right because the PA-16 was overtaking the RV6A. The RV6A was instructed to "slide over" to runway 27 left, but the pilot of the RV6A did not comply. The instructions were repeated to the RV6A, but again, the pilot did not comply. The instructions were repeated to the RV6A, but again, the pilot did not comply. The PA-16 was instructed to "keep it up higher", because of the RV6A below the PA-16. The pilot of the PA-16 did not comply, and continued descent toward runway 27 right. A review of a video taken by a spectator reveals that the PA-16 was slightly behind and above, and in very close proximity to the RV6A on final approach. Although the actual moment of collision is not captured on video, statements from controllers working ground traffic at the approach end of runway 27 left and runway 27 right indicate that the left main landing gear of the PA-16 collided with the upper surface of the RV6A empennage. The RV6A nose then pitched up from the impact, and the propeller of the PA-16 struck the cockpit area of the RV6A. The video reveals the nose of the RV6A pitching up, and subsequently shows both aircraft intermeshed in a left rotation until they impact with the ground. The statement of the pilot of the PA-16 indicates that he was aware of the maroon aircraft (RV6A) ahead of him on base and final, but he did not actually see the aircraft until just a second before they collided. privacy data omitted
As the FAA filed it
(-23) A HIGH WING, GRAY AND BLUE, PIPER PA-16, N5293H, AND A LOW WING, MAROON, RV6A, N3333S, WERE PREPARING TO LAND AT LAKELAND LINDER REGIONAL AIRPORT, LAKELAND, FLORIDA, ALONG WITH NUMEROUS OTHER AIRCRAFT, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTENDING THE SUN 'N FUN FLY-IN. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER STATEMENTS, AND A WORKING TRANSCRIPT OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL RADIO TRANSMISSIONS INDICATE THAT THE RV6A WAS AHEAD OF THE PA-16 ON DOWNWIND TO RUNWAY 27 RIGHT. THE RV6A WAS INSTRUCTED TO TURN BASE, BUT ACCORDING TO CONTROLLER STATEMENTS, THE PILOT WAS SLOW TO COMPLY WITH THE INSTRUCTED TO TURN BASE, AND THE RV6A WAS AGAIN INSTRUCTED TO FLY STRAIGHT TO THE NUMBERS. CONTROLLER STATEMENTS INDICATE THAT THE RV6A AND THE PA-16 WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO LAND ON RUNWAY 27 RIGHT BECAUSE THE PA-16 WAS OVERTAKING THE RV6A. THE RV6A WAS INSTRUCTED TO "SLIDE OVER" TO RUNWAY 27 LEFT, BUT THE PILOT OF THE RV6A DID NOT COMPLY. THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE REPEATED TO THE RV6A, BUT AGAIN, THE PILOT DID NOT COMPLY. THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE REPEATED TO THE RV6A, BUT AGAIN, THE PILOT DID NOT COMPLY. THE PA-16 WAS INSTRUCTED TO "KEEP IT UP HIGHER", BECAUSE OF THE RV6A BELOW THE PA-16. THE PILOT OF THE PA-16 DID NOT COMPLY, AND CONTINUED DESCENT TOWARD RUNWAY 27 RIGHT. A REVIEW OF A VIDEO TAKEN BY A SPECTATOR REVEALS THAT THE PA-16 WAS SLIGHTLY BEHIND AND ABOVE, AND IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE RV6A ON FINAL APPROACH. ALTHOUGH THE ACTUAL MOMENT OF COLLISION IS NOT CAPTURED ON VIDEO, STATEMENTS FROM CONTROLLERS WORKING GROUND TRAFFIC AT THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 27 LEFT AND RUNWAY 27 RIGHT INDICATE THAT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR OF THE PA-16 COLLIDED WITH THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE RV6A EMPENNAGE. THE RV6A NOSE THEN PITCHED UP FROM THE IMPACT, AND THE PROPELLER OF THE PA-16 STRUCK THE COCKPIT AREA OF THE RV6A. THE VIDEO REVEALS THE NOSE OF THE RV6A PITCHING UP, AND SUBSEQUENTLY SHOWS BOTH AIRCRAFT INTERMESHED IN A LEFT ROTATION UNTIL THEY IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE STATEMENT OF THE PILOT OF THE PA-16 INDICATES THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THE MAROON AIRCRAFT (RV6A) AHEAD OF HIM ON BASE AND FINAL, BUT HE DID NOT ACTUALLY SEE THE AIRCRAFT UNTIL JUST A SECOND BEFORE THEY COLLIDED. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.