# 3 September 2026, Lancair Evolution, N305PV, near Tampa Executive Airport (KVDF), Florida \[Fatal\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Aviation Breaking News\ **Tags:** lancair-evolution, n305pv\ **Created:** [September 9, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.pilotdebrief.com/t/3-september-2026-lancair-evolution-n305pv-near-tampa-executive-airport-kvdf-florida-fatal/373 "2026-09-09T18:06:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1

**Author:** ![CaptainAdam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@CaptainAdam](https://community.pilotdebrief.com/u/CaptainAdam)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.pilotdebrief.com/t/3-september-2026-lancair-evolution-n305pv-near-tampa-executive-airport-kvdf-florida-fatal/373/1 "2026-09-09T18:06:38Z")

**- History of Flight:** On September 3, 2026, at about 0815 local time, a Lancair Evolution, N305PV, registered to Ekpheugo LLC out of Tampa, FL, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Tampa Executive Airport (VDF/KVDF), Tampa, Florida. The commercial pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The cross-country personal flight originated from VDF and was destined to Elizabeth City Airport (ECG/KECG), Elizabeth City, North Carolina. ![image-1920x1080](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex056/uploads/pilotdebrief/original/1X/51c6262edad458a9d2b8f94cb048223fc31a55d4.jpeg) According to Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, at 0803, the airplane was observed taxing from the ramp to runway 05. At 0814:05, the airplane was seen taxing from the hold short line to runway 05. At 0814:48, the airplane was observed about 2800 ft down and 160 ft to the left side of the runway 05 with a reported groundspeed of 80 knots. For the next few seconds, the airplane continued on a +1000 feet per minute (fpm) climb while continuing to turn left. At 0814:58, the airplane reached a crest of climb of 225 ft with a reported groundspeed of 85 knots and still in a left turn. At 0815:02, the airplane was at 125 ft, 90 knots, and -1150 fpm rate. The airplane descended to roughly 25 ft before it was observed on a desperate climb. The last ADS-B data point was recorded at 0815:10, the airplane was at 75 ft, 93 knots, and +760 fpm. | [![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex056/uploads/pilotdebrief/original/1X/fef0cc09f82074710fb999383e2bb1d46d6eab84.jpeg)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIZ3M7suPvZLxFxzCDM-yU91pPnOly6y3KMlysElwWx-7BwfUAHoKRQ52MKvKVecpePx5ra72Vxwf_2GVKad7BEsPYPBX4WHFuo_ViwP0VIAaw_0CDpJdSV5uPmH1CSjwN5ZeQXMl71wXqGCpL2dvf-Czb0Rh1YY_xEDhiH4ixDNpVzZfVgIp3T6txDxo) | | --- | | Figure 1: ADS-B exchange view | | [![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex056/uploads/pilotdebrief/original/1X/94e37dc0d1c6b99421b3198df83d9d79f94c5441.jpeg)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnitc8iXL2SKycyqD_RiueMFohmnFv6J_v__yXSiOrYvKHd2TZY82J2Bs0Qs-A11M22pTegP4lDCI0ss1H1adjpVop9oZqIZd10ZS6hbuB3LsUUsI-vlR9bVYtetxzYAJC2gS9EvV0zRo2ovElJyw_hsYJxSZWLbmWrq4H2jfqIilpzcp3mz9dnb5Uar8) | | --- | | Figure 2: ADS-B data ran through Flysto | | [![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex056/uploads/pilotdebrief/original/1X/d1b9282eb5db373a1936b2f2f1c03111bfa24a95.png)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWRq4NDRTo1GgGTL1dmcHRDhpgTcBE6VFbbyAxa_bsOwwk0RAptEiBicwAC6dm--sraNqMsHc4LJrbo9muWxEm2sJU7mkw2U4Bj_oJpnzxa3faG1sYd96Ow6D5lwGbn_YMvEdVxUzHlq2AiZV_yjaLyJu5472FFmw3Dc8JZBvzfYyVAxL_wR5PIQErPGI) | | --- | | Figure 3: Vertical rate profile | **- Pilot Information:** The pilot, aged 59, held a commercial pilot certificate (last issued/updated on 10/15/2016) with an airplane single engine land and sea ratings. He also held an instrument rating. His FAA BasicMed Course was dated 4/25/2025. **- Airplane Information:** The accident airplane, serial number EVO0074, was manufactured in 2018. It was an experimental amateur-built airplane constructed mainly of composite materials. The high-performance, pressurized airplane was equipped with four seats, retractable tricycle landing gear, and traditional flight control surfaces. It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A turboprop engine rated at 750 SHP that drove a 5-bladed Hartzell propeller, serial number 5D3-N338A2. According to the flight manual, the airplane’s stall speed was 76 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) and that stall speed in the landing configuration (flaps extended) was 61 KIAS [![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex056/uploads/pilotdebrief/original/1X/cb96256f5733bae8dc64d9b22759b75515c05471.jpeg)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq9UtarK6Vw1YA1Ctawro8WyKfVxMkSuFjMLq9RDuUfBJE_1aL92v4xPhpGLKNCAAx3CwohHJ0lsjcYdoVg7Rn13a8hNBHQ4pVzKXqI9D1Qv4U9ErSzKoHbCZt5cLXMYqBOd64Vgk-ToK148yCTEBt4GYDkBUvMVrDkrEGtDbnlNYjazxt51A8rtOexMc) **- Wreckage and Impact Information:** The wreckage was located in a wooded area 0.37 mile (~2000 ft) west of the departure runway. The airplane was completely destroyed and consumed by a post crash fire. **- Airport Information:** Tampa Executive Airport is a non-towered public airport located 6 miles east of Tampa, Florida. The airport field elevation is 21.1 ft. The airport features a single asphalt runway 18/36 which is 3219 x 75 ft. **- Weather:** u Brief:[/u] At 0815, the winds were from 050 at 4 knots, 10 miles visibility, an overcast ceiling at 500ft AGL, temperature 26 °C, dewpoint 26 °C, and an altimeter setting of 29.96 inches of mercury. u METARs:[/u] METAR KVDF 031155Z AUTO 06003KT 10SM OVC004 26/26 A2995 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW CIG 003V005 70003 T02560256 10256 20251 53017 $ METAR KVDF 031215Z AUTO 05004KT 10SM OVC005 26/26 A2996 RMK AO2 T02590259 $ \<\<\<\< METAR KVDF 031235Z AUTO 06006KT 10SM OVC005 26/26 A2997 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW AND E AND S T02610261 $ u Area Forecast Discussion:[/u] * * * ```auto 859 FXUS62 KTBW 030011 AFDTBW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 811 PM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026 ...New UPDATE, AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... - Warm and humid conditions will continue with numerous to widespread showers and thunderstorms each day through the week. - Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall mainly in urban areas with the higher thunderstorm activity each day through much of the week. && .UPDATE... Issued at 808 PM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026 The most intense thunderstorm activity has transitioned to SWFL and off the Tampa Bay and Nature Coast into the Gulf. Across much of West Central Florida, stratiform rain has filled in, and looks to linger for a couple more hours yet. In SWFL, new thunderstorm activity continues to occur, and this may continue for another hour or so yet before beginning to gradually subside in the next 2 to 3 hours as well. It will be hard to sustain it longer than that given the loss of daytime heating and westward-propagating outflow boundaries that should further undercut low-level instability. With the flow expected to shift early tomorrow, it looks like thunderstorm activity over the Gulf may never quite fully subside overnight. Shortly after the sun rises, this convection may begin to push convection back towards the coast, with SWFL likely seeing the earliest storms tomorrow, followed by the Tampa Bay and Nature Coast regions late morning and finally the interior by early afternoon. The earlier initiation may allow for an earlier cessation near the coast too; but if storms move in early enough, it could also support a secondary round of convection later in the day. Because of the aforementioned setup, a few adjustments to the POPs and overall weather forecast have been made. Rain chances have been tweaked for the next few hours, and then increased along the coast, especially in SWFL, earlier in the day. Haven`t messed with afternoon POPs much because not quite confident enough to reduce the rain chances later in the day just yet. That can monitored and adjusted with the overnight package depending on trends. Otherwise, the forecast looks good. A fairly typical late summer pattern continues. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 149 PM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026 An upper level trough off the east coast it helping to fuel extra moisture over the state today. PW this morning was around 2.3 which even for Florida is high. The record for the 12z sounding on this date is 2.41. This along with our easterly winds will help to bring widespread showers and storms to the west coast of Florida this afternoon and evening. We will see much of the same conditions on our Thursday. By Friday and into the weekend this upper level trough will move closer to the state. This will shift our winds more southwesterly. Typically this would reduce storm chances for the west coast, which it will, but not as much as we typically see. This is because the high PWs will still keep PoPs around 60 along the coast with 80 or 90 in inland locations. This trend will last through Monday. By next Tuesday the upper level trough will be gone as winds shift more southerly. Still PW will remain above 2 with scattered showers and storms still expected with only a small decrease in coverage expected. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 808 PM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026 Thunderstorm activity continues across the region this evening. Near SWFL terminals, new storms are still developing. Meanwhile, most of the thunderstorm activity across the central interior and Tampa Bay region is beginning to wind down; but stratiform rain continues to linger with the occasional lightning strike. Over the next few hours, most of the activity should subside, with a fairly quiet overnight period. Towards morning, the residual moisture does favor some lower clouds, which could lead to a brief period of MVFR, with the greatest potential around Tampa Bay and interior terminals. However, it cannot be completely ruled out across SWFL either; its just too low for direct mention. As the flow veers to a more SSW direction tomorrow, expecting early thunderstorms across SWFL, with a slightly earlier time-frame for the Tampa Bay area than today, but likely still in the afternoon. This flow sticks around for the next few days. With ample moisture and instability remaining, this suggests that earlier thunderstorm timing should be anticipated for the next few days. && .MARINE... Issued at 149 PM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026 Winds will shift to a more southerly direction tonight and remain that way through our Saturday. However, speeds will remain around 5 to 10 knots. Deep tropical moisture will result in best storm chances in the evening and early overnight hours as storms push off the coast. However we will also see some isolated showers each morning in the Gulf. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 149 PM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026 Deeper layer moisture has pushed back into the state which will bring scattered showers and storms across the state through the weekend. We will not have any major fire weather concern. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 77 89 77 90 / 60 70 30 80 FMY 77 91 77 92 / 60 60 30 80 GIF 75 92 76 94 / 40 70 40 90 SRQ 76 90 77 92 / 60 60 30 70 BKV 73 91 73 92 / 40 70 30 90 SPG 77 89 78 90 / 60 70 30 60 && Sea Breeze Thunderstorm Regime For Thursday: 6 Sea Breeze Thunderstorm Regime For Friday: 4 For additional information on sea breeze regimes, go to: https://www.weather.gov/tbw/ThunderstormClimatology && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. Gulf waters...None. && $$ UPDATE/AVIATION...Flannery PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...Shiveley ``` **- Additional Information:** None ---

**Author:** ![moiraatkinson](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex056/user_avatar/community.pilotdebrief.com/moiraatkinson/32/337_2.png) [@moiraatkinson](https://community.pilotdebrief.com/u/moiraatkinson)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://community.pilotdebrief.com/t/3-september-2026-lancair-evolution-n305pv-near-tampa-executive-airport-kvdf-florida-fatal/373/2 "2026-09-16T13:26:38Z")

I’m very impressed that you got all that information from the METARs. It looked a lovely airplane, what a shame. I’d love to know what DSNT and CIG stand for. From the emphasis on the weather, it looks as if that’s being cited as possibly to blame, but it didn’t seem as though the plane was really in the air long enough.