# NTSB MIA85LA249: Piper PA-28-160, N5488W, Key West, FL, September 9, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 8, 1985, 22:08 local (Sep 9, 1985, 02:08 UTC)
- Place: Key West, FL
- Coordinates: 24.55058, -81.78099 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5506&lon=-81.7810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31449
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA249
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31449/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA249

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Missing aircraft, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-160
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-572
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 32; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850908043609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850908043609A), Sep 8, 1985: Piper PA28160, Key West, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Student departed with passenger at night. Radar contact lost during descent over ocean. Assumed fatal.

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.

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