Pilot killed in Polk County plane crash remembered by aviation community

LAKELAND, Fla. - An experimental plane broke apart midair and plunged into a Polk County cow pasture Monday night, killing a passionate 23-year-old pilot and flight instructor, according to the sheriff's office.

Polk County plane crash

What we know:

Michael "Cole" Robinson, 23, died after his experimental plane broke apart midair Monday night. The single-seat aircraft crashed into a cow pasture and a wooded area about a mile west of Moore Road, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Robinson departed from Lakeland alone on the flight. A friend who took off from Bartow in another aircraft planned to fly in formation with him.

"We talked to the pilot. He said he looked down when he saw his partner had disappeared, just in time to see the plane come apart, and it immediately crashed straight down into the ground," Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Robinson previously worked as a line tech fueling airplanes and marshaling jets at Winter Haven Regional Airport. He was also a certified flight instructor, a dedicated member of the Lakeland Aero Club, and an employee at Jack Brown's Seaplane Base in Winter Haven.

Aviation community remembers pilot

What they're saying:

Former coworkers expressed deep sorrow while celebrating Robinson's legacy and profound passion for flight. "In his off time, [he was] reading books about aviation and pilots' novels. It's always exciting seeing people express their passion differently, but he was always passionate about seaplanes and passionate about aviation as a whole," Winter Haven Regional Airport operations supervisor Collin Davis said.

Davis explained that Robinson stood out among his peers for his genuine commitment to the skies.

"Some people work in aviation for the money, some people are just grinding away, and some people work in aviation because they love it. They fall in love with the field and the aircraft. Among pilots and aviators, Cole loved where he was and what he did," Davis said.

The fatal incident left the local aviation gateway reflecting on the critical nature of flight safety. "It's a harsh reminder that aviation is a sensitive environment, and it's important for us to prioritize safety like we do at Winter Haven—and remember that we're here as people first and a career second," Davis said.

Airport contract and fiscal specialist Jana Wasmund noted that the young pilot left an indelible mark on the region.

"He left a great legacy for such a short time he was here—for what he did, who he was involved with, and how he impacted his community. He'll be greatly missed for many years to come," Wasmund said.

Federal aviation investigation

What we don't know:

Authorities have not yet determined the exact factors that caused the aircraft to suffer a catastrophic structural failure midair. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are continuing their investigation into why the plane crashed.

Polk County