# Accident 20050730016789A: Cessna 172S, Key West, FL, July 30, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 30, 2005, 21:18 local time
- Place: Key West, FL
- Airport: Key West International
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 24.5386° N, 81.7119° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5386&lon=-81.7119&mi=10
- Aircraft: N65982, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65982-2017-02-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYC IO360L2A
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Pilot flight hours: 900 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA05FA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05FA140) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050730016789A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA05FA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05FA140), Jul 31, 2005: Cessna 172S (N65982), Key West, FL, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The 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…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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