Cessna U206G accident near Key West, FL

On March 17, 1996, a Cessna U206G (airplane) was involved in an accident near Key West, FL. 5 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

March 17, 1996

Place

Key West, FL

Aircraft

Cessna U206G · Airplane

Injuries

5 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

24.550°N, 81.781°W

NTSB ID

20001208X05447

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 17, 1996, about 1237 eastern standard time, a float equipped Cessna U206G, N9983Z, registered to and operated by Key West Seaplane Service, Inc., crashed shortly after takeoff from the Gulf of Mexico Seaplane Base, Key West, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a DVFR flight plan was filed and activated for the 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand, non-scheduled, domestic, passenger flight. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial-rated pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. One passenger was seriously injured. The flight originated from the Seaplane Base about 3 minutes earlier. According to company personnel, the pilot fueled the airplane before departure and the passengers were questioned about their weights before boarding the airplane. The seating information is provided by the Director of Maintenance (D.O.M.) for the company who witnessed the loading of and departure of the airplane. The right front seat was occupied by a passenger who was later determined to be a single-engine land rated pilot. The pilot was observed to taxi about 1-2 miles away from the seaplane base and the takeoff was initiated from a point abeam the Garrison Bight Channel just north of the Fleming Key. The flight departed into the wind and was about 60 feet above the water about abeam the Salt Pond Keys. The D.O.M. stated that he then diverted his attention and he further stated that he watched the takeoff because the engine was near the time required to be overhauled. According to radar data from the Key West Naval Air Station, four se

Probable cause

The pilot's improper decision to continue the flight rather than making an immediate water landing due to the low altitude of the airplane and obstructions ahead, which led to his intentional maneuver to avoid the obstructions and subsequent inadvertent stall and loss of control. Contributing to the accident were: an inadequate 100-hour inspection of the airplane by company maintenance personnel f

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.