April 7, 2025 – On Friday night at approximately 7:40 p.m., an Ultralight Aero-Lite 103 aircraft suffered a malfunction during a test flight near South Lakeland Airstrip, located at 7500 Coronet Rd, Mulberry, FL.
The pilot, Christian Molina, a 36-year-old New Yorker vacationing in Florida, attempted an emergency landing but collided with trees during the descent. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Fire quickly responded to the scene. Remarkably, Molina emerged with only minor scratches and bruises and declined medical attention, according to the PCSO.
In an exclusive interview with our team, Molina recounted the harrowing ordeal. With over 12 years of flying experience, he told us he took off from the airstrip when a link malfunctioned, causing the plane to lose control just three minutes into the flight. He managed to glide the aircraft into nearby trees and crash-land. While hanging from the tree, Molina shared, “I yelled to a neighbor for a ladder to get down before the plane fell off the tree.” He added, “I was never scared; my experience kept me alive.”
Molina also shared a video and photos of the aircraft, offering a firsthand look at the crash scene. When asked if he plans to return to the skies, he responded confidently, “Of course I’ll fly again.” The aircraft had no connection to the Sun ‘n Fun event, which Molina had intended to visit on Saturday. Nothing further at this time.
