# Accident 20120223001859A: Cessna 172S, Key West, FL, February 23, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 23, 2012, 22:25 local time
- Place: Key West, FL
- Airport: Key West International
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 24.6022° N, 81.7506° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.6022&lon=-81.7506&mi=10
- Aircraft: N53589, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53589-2012-08-31) (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: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 74 total, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12FA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA193) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120223001859A

## Narrative

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

CESSNA 172S, S/N: 172S9408, N53589 ARRIVED IN KEY WEST, FLORIDA AT APPROXIMATELY 1700(L) CLEARED CUSTOMS AND WENT TO ISLAND CITY FLYING SERVICE (FBO).  AT 1748(L) THE AIRCRAFT TOOK 12 GALLONS OF FUEL, 6 GALLONS PER SIDE.  THE TWO PILOTS ONBOARD DEPARTED THE AIRPORT FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME.  THE FBO AND KEY WEST ATC CLOSED AT 2100(L).  SECURITY VIDEO SHOWS A TAXI CAB RETURNING TO THE FBO AT APPROXIMATELY 2200(L) AND AT 2212(L) AN ANTI-COLLISION LIGHT CAME ON AT THE GENERAL AVIATION RAMP BELIEVED TO BE N53589.  THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO TAXI AT 2220(L).  THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF AT 2223(L) FROM RUNWAY 09 TRAVELED 3.2 MILES NORTH AND CRASHED INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.  INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE WATER AT A HIGH ANGLE, RIGHT WING DOWN WITH THE ENGINE AT POWER.

## 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 ERA12FA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA193), Feb 24, 2012: Cessna 172S (N53589), Key West, FL, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The non-night-qualified pilot's improper decision to depart in dark night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in his subsequent spatial disorientation, loss of control, and impact with…

## Other reports on N53589 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20050328005419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050328005419A), Mar 28, 2005: Cessna 172S (N53589), West Palm Beach, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that the passenger window separated from the aircraft and hit the horizontal stabilizer and rudder after they encountered severe turbulence…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.