No Injuries Reported In Either Accident At Lakeland Linder Regional Airport

Two incidents about three minutes apart damaged two airplanes last week at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport on Friday.

The incidents were apparently unrelated. First, a 2011 Velocity XL-5 (representative airplane pictured in file photo, not accident airplane) skidded off the runway into a grassy area at about 0812 EDT, according to authorities. About three minutes later, the left landing gear on a 1989 Skybolt collapsed during landing. That airplane skidded about 100 feet before coming to a stop, according to a report from the Orlando Sentinel.

Lakeland Police Sgt. Gary Gross said in a statement that there were "no injuries and minimal damage" in the Velocity incident. The pilot of that airplane was Billy Ray Watkins Jr. of Jacksonville, FL, and there were two passengers on board.

The Skybolt (representative airplane pictured in file photo, not accident airplane) suffered about $15,000 in damage, according to the release. It was being flown by Scott Lee Geller of Fort Meyers, FL. He also had a passenger on board. Neither was injured, according to Goss.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov