20050730016789A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172S · Key West, FL · July 30, 2005

Date: July 30, 2005 · 21:18 local
Place: Key West, FL
Airport: Key West International
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N65982
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA05FA140
Reported as: Cessna 172S
Reported engine: Lycoming IO360L2A
People aboard: 4
Fatal injuries: 4
Pilot’s flight hours: 900 total

N65982Registration cancelled Feb 28, 2017 · Cessna 172SS/N 172S9766 · Built 2004 Airframe modelCessna 172S Engine modelLycoming IO-360-L2AReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On July 31, 2005 at 0112Z Cessna skyhawk N65982 with four persons on board (one pilot three pax) departed Key West (keyw) to marathon (kmth) on a VFR flight. N65982 departed on runway 09, the Key West tower at this time was closed. As the pilot departed to the east to go around navy Key West airfield, the pilot turned south and was in contact with navy Key West. Navy Key West gave the N65982 aircraft a squawk code of 0210 for ident. At 0118Z the last transmission was heard from the pilot. The aircraft was found south southeast of keyw in 30 feet of water. The pilot had a commercial and instrument rating and had, according to the pilot's record, 900 plus flight hours. Also the pilot was not current in instruments.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON JULY 31, 2005 AT 0112Z CESSNA SKYHAWK N65982 WITH FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD (ONE PILOT THREE PAX) DEPARTED KEY WEST (KEYW) TO MARATHON (KMTH) ON A VFR FLIGHT. N65982 DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 09, THE KEY WEST TOWER AT THIS TIME WAS CLOSED. AS THE PILOT DEPARTED TO THE EAST TO GO AROUND NAVY KEY WEST AIRFIELD, THE PILOT TURNED SOUTH AND WAS IN CONTACT WITH NAVY KEY WEST. NAVY KEY WEST GAVE THE N65982 AIRCRAFT A SQUAWK CODE OF 0210 FOR IDENT. AT 0118Z THE LAST TRANSMISSION WAS HEARD FROM THE PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF KEYW IN 30 FEET OF WATER. THE PILOT HAD A COMMERCIAL AND INSTRUMENT RATING AND HAD, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S RECORD, 900 PLUS FLIGHT HOURS. ALSO THE PILOT WAS NOT CURRENT IN INSTRUMENTS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA05FA140Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportKey West, FLThe failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control of the airplane during the dark, night flight over water, resulting in the uncontrolled descent and in-flight collision with the water. A contributing factor in the accident was the pilot's…Jul 31, 2005 · Destroyed