# NTSB MIA98LA138: Kaas Express, N12EX, Lakeland, FL, April 20, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1998, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place: Lakeland, FL
- Coordinates: 27.980173, -82.009155 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9802&lon=-82.0092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38502
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38502/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA138

## Probable cause

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

## Analysis

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.

## Factual narrative

On April 20, 1998, at about 1350 eastern daylight time, a Kaas Express, N12EX, experimental airplane, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a loss of directional control during the landing flare, and crashed on landing at the Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport, Lakeland, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Ocala Municipal Airport, Ocala, Florida, about 30 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated he applied power during his round out on landing in an effort to remain in ground effect over the runway. His airplane was gaining on another airplane to his front. As he applied 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, taxiway light, bounced over an intersection, touched down in the grass left of the runway, and slid into a ditch. An engine fire ensued, and was extinguished by emergency response personnel.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - sign
  - object - taxiway light
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12EX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12EX-2017-10-27), registration cancelled 2017-10-27, S/N 12 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Kaas EXPRESS
- Registry model: [Kaas Dennis EXPRESS](https://openairdocs.org/model/kaas-dennis-express) (registry code 0563014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 12
- Airframe hours: 198
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dennis T. Kaas
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: OCF, OCALA, FL
- Destination: LAL, FL
- Airport: LAL, Lakeland-Linder Regional, runway 9L, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 198 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAL

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19980420007389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980420007389A), Apr 20, 1998: Lakeland, FL, Substantial damage. Traffic on runway. Began go around. Failed compensate for p factor. Veered left into signs lights and a ditch. (-23) pilot increased throttle on landing round…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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