# NTSB ATL01LA032: Cessna 208, N208KW, Key West, FL, January 31, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 31, 2001, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Key West, FL - Location: 24.5561° N, 81.7600° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at KEY WEST INTL (EYW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5561&lon=-81.7600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 10 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: MIAMI FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51461 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51461/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA032 ## Probable cause The airplanes' inadvertent collision with a swell during a water landing near a ferry boat that resulted the overload failure of the rear float/strut assembly. ## Analysis The pilot planned and performed a water landing to avoid any past wake swells created by the ferry boat. Approximately 1/2 to 3/4 through his landing slide, with the plane slowed to approximate 30 - 35 knots, a large swell appeared before him. Despite efforts to avoid the wake created by the boat, the airplane encountered a swell that launched the airplane 10-15 feet into the air. The airplane subsequently collided with the water and the rear float struts failed at the attachment points. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On January 31, 2001, at 1040 eastern standard time, a Cessna 208, N208KW, collided with water during landing off-shore in the Dry Tortugas National Park near Fort Jefferson, 70 miles west of Key West, Florida. The airplane was operated by Seaplanes of Key West, and flown by the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the local sightseeing flight. The pilot and nine passengers were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Key West, Florida, at 1000. According to the pilot, while making a normal approach, including a flyby to evaluate landing conditions, he observed that one of the ferryboats was arriving in the south channel. He planned and performed a water landing to avoid any past wake swells created by the ferry boat in the landing area. Approximately 1/2 to 3/4 through the landing slide, with the airplane slowed to approximate 30 - 35 knots, a large swell appeared and launched the airplane 10-15 feet above the water. This swell was completely separated from the boat wake that had been observed earlier. The pilot further stated that, at this point, he was "powerless" to do anything but wait for the airplane to settle. After the airplane settled on the water, the pilot taxied to shallow water where assistance was received from park service in deplaning the airplane. The examination of the airplane disclosed that the rear float/strut attach point had failed and the strut assembly had penetrated the airframe skin. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. According to the pilot, the swell that launched the airplane during the landing was not seen until it was too late for him to avoid the collision. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - large wave/swell (cause) - touchdown - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: N208KW (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 208 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20800292 - Airframe hours: 1787 - Engines: P&W PT8-114A 675 lbs thrust turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Seaplanes Of Key West - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 30, 2001, 0.5 hours before - Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, AK - Destination: EYW - Airport: KEYW, Key West International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 5, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 15,000 total, 2,620 in this make and model, 14,700 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: MIA ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010131001299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010131001299A), Jan 31, 2001: Cessna 208, Key West, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) After touch down on water, sea plane hit unseen wave. Wave pitched a/c back into the air resulting in a hard water landing. (-19) on January 31, 2001, at… 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. --- 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.