- Date
- September 8, 1985, 22:08 local (Sep 9, 1985, 02:08 UTC)
- Place
- Key West, FL
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Unknown
- Aircraft
- N5488WPiper PA-28-160
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850908043609A
- Case key
- 31449
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Missing aircraft
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Analysis
The acft failed to arrive at its intended destination on a flt plan from ft. lauderdale FL. To Key West FL. Navy Key West apch was providing VFR flt following, radar & radiocontact was lost with the acft 20 NE of Key West. The whereabouts of the occupants are unknown & they are presumed fatal. The acft is missing & the damage index is presumed to be destroyed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5488W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-160
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-572
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- Unknown
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James C. Bailey
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- FLL · Ft.Lauderdale, FL
- Destination
- EYW · Key West, FL
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- Unknown
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 110° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EYW
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.