Cessna 172S accident near Key West, FL
On July 31, 2005, a Cessna 172S (airplane) was involved in an accident near Key West, FL. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 31, 2005
- Place
- Key West, FL
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 24.539°N, 81.712°W
- NTSB ID
- 20050805X01171
Official records · MIA05FA140
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Transcript of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Key West Approach Control Flight Progress Strip: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 30, 2005, about 2120 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N65982, registered to MFH Leasing, Inc., operated by Epic Aviation, crashed in the Straits of Florida shortly after takeoff from Key West International Airport, Key West, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR part 91 personal flight from Key West International Airport (KEYW), to The Florida Keys Marathon Airport (KMTH), Marathon, Florida. The airplane was destroyed, and the commercial-rated pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated about 2118, from Key West International Airport. According to a transcription of communications with Navy Key West Approach Control, at 2118:45, an occupant of the airplane established contacted with their facility and provided the airplane registration number. The controller replied, "squawk zero two one zero wind one three zero at seven Navy Key West altimeter three zero zero four say type Cessna destination and requested altitude." The next comment was from the controller advising the pilot to say the type of aircraft, the destination, and again advised the transponder code was 0210. At 2119:21, an occupant of the airplane replied, "Squawking zero two one zero. It's a Cessna Skyhawk six five nine eight two. We like southbound to transition your airspace to the south on a cross country to Marathon, yeah." The controller again advised the pilot to "squawk" 0210, to which an occupant replied at 2119:48 "zero two one zero Cessna six five nine eight two." The controll
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control of the airplane during the dark, night flight over water, resulting in the uncontrolled descent and in-flight collision with the water. A contributing factor in the accident was the pilot's distraction with the inappropriately set transponder.
More accidents in FL
- Grumman G-73T, Dec 19, 2005
- Beech B90, Jan 5, 1994
- Beech B-90, Sep 3, 1999
- Cessna 182B, Feb 7, 1982
- Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-12/47, Jun 7, 2012
Browse: Florida · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
