# NTSB ERA26FA115: Cessna A185, N7574N, Everglades City, FL, February 15, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: February 15, 2026, 11:55 local (16:55 UTC) - Place: Everglades City, FL · Everglades National Park - Coordinates: 25.849578, -81.473054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8496&lon=-81.4731&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Continental Aerospace Technologies, Textron Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 202436 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26FA115 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202436/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA115 ## Preliminary report On February 15, 2026, about 1155 eastern standard time, a Cessna A185F, N7574N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Everglades City, Florida. The pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to preliminary ADS-B data, the airplane departed from Marco Island Executive Airport (MKY), Marco Island, Florida at 1116 and flew southeast toward the coastline. The airplane followed the coastline and performed multiple turns until it reached Pavilion Key, Florida. After flying over Pavilion Key, the airplane turned northwest and proceeded back up the coastline. About 5 miles west of Everglades City, Florida, the airplane made multiple low altitude maneuvers while flying over the Ten Thousand Islands portion of the Everglades National Park. The last ADS-B data point was about .5 mile east of the accident site. The airplane was located in the Ten Thousand Islands portion of the Everglades National Park upside down in the water. At high tide, it was observed that only the floats of the airplane were above the water line, during low tide, the floats and about half of the airplane’s fuselage were above the water line. The airplane was equipped with amphibious landing gear which was found in the “UP” (water landing) position. The water rudders were also found in the “UP” position. During the recovery of the wreckage, the airplane was turned upright, onto its floats, and towed to shore. The floats supported the weight of the airplane for several hours during the tow. After recovery, a postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, with the majority of the damage contained to the forward portion of the airplane. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to all associated flight controls by manipulating the cockpit controls and observing corresponding surface movement. Binding was noted in the rudder pedals consistent with damage to the right water rudder sustained during recovery. No other flight controls exhibited unusual resistance. The flap handle was impact damaged and found in the 1st detent which is equal to 10° of flaps; however, the flaps operated normally. The horizontal stabilizer trim jack screws were measured to be 5.5 inches and was near the nose up stop. The airplane was equipped with a 3-point shoulder harness seatbelt system for the front seats. The pilot side restraint remained attached to its installation points and was undamaged. The belt buckle was found unlatched and operated normally during testing. The copilot side restraint system remained attached to its attach points, and one of the harness restraints was cut. The belt buckle was found unlatched and operated normally during testing. The pilot seat was equipped with the inertia reel secondary seat stop, which functioned normally during testing. Thewreckage was retained for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7574N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7574N), registered now, S/N 18504326, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185 (F) - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-d) (registry code 17236, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18504326 - Year built: 1981 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MKY, Marco Island, FL - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 13 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: APF, 25 nm away - METAR: METAR KAPF 151653Z 18013G23KT 10SM CLR 27/18 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02670178 $= ## 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 20260215002779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260215002779A), Feb 15, 2026: Cessna A185F, Naples, FL, Minor damage, 1 fatal. On February 15, 2026, at about 1116 hours, a 1981 Cessna (floats) A185F, [privacy data omitted] departed marco island executive airport to the south and at… ## Other investigations on N7574N (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CEN21LA406](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA406), Sep 6, 2021: Cessna A185F (N7574N), Kingsley, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of an unsecured fuel bladder, which reduced the fuel capacity of the affected tank. - [NTSB NYC06CA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA065), Jan 29, 2006: Cessna A185F (N7574N), Pembroke, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a ground loop and subsequent impact with trees. A factor was the soft runway as reported by the pilot. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.