THE DTSB
Pending. Another pilot flying in formation with the accident aircraft reported the plane’s wings departed during flight. The inflight break up was not associated with weather or maneuvering, or contact with the other aircraft.
U-FITAQP: 24) IN FLIGHT BREAKUP
Van's RV-3A | N696DB
- DTSB analysis published
Key facts
- DateJune 15, 2026
- Local time7:55 PM
- LightDay
- WeatherVMC
- Phase of flightEnroute
- People on board1
- Fatalities1
Accident Location
- City, State
- Lakeland, Florida
- Latitude
- 28.190444
- Longitude
- -81.927889
Aircraft Info
- N Number
- N696DB
- Make
- Van's
- Model
- RV-3A
- Category / Class
- Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built
- Yes
Pilot Info
- Pilot in command
- Michael Cole Robinson
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 23
- Certification
- Commercial Pilot
- IFR rating
- Yes
- Medical
- 1st Class Medical
- Flight school
- No
- Instructional flight
- No
Analysis
- Weather
- VMC
- Time of day
- Day
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Pilot error
- No
- Pilot incapacitation
- Unknown
- People on board
- 1
- PIC fatality
- 1
- Total fatalities
- 1
- NTSB travel
- Unknown
- AQP category
- 24) IN FLIGHT BREAKUP →
Probable Cause
NTSB
None yet (final report not yet published).
Recommendation
THE DTSB
Pending.
NTSB
None issued. NTSB recommendations are rare and usually tied to high-profile accidents.
See the NTSB Recommendation Tracker →