Glf Of Mex.Seaplane Base Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Key West, Florida 33040
Wednesday, February 22, 1984 12:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT LANDED AFTER A PREVIOUS FLT & WAS REFUELED & PREFLIGHT FOR ANOTHER MISSION. ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, THE ACFT FLOATS WERE DRAINED ONCE EVERY MORNING BEFORE THE 1ST FLT OF THE DAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE PLT STATED THAT WHEN SHE WAS TAKING OFF FROM THE SEAPLANE BASE, THE FRONT RIGHT DOOR WINDOW BECAME OPEN & SHE LEANED TO THE RIGHT TO CHECK THAT THE DOOR WAS CLOSED & LOCKED. SHE CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF. WHEN THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE, SHE HAD TO HOLD AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF RIGHT AILERON TO HOLD THE WINGS LEVEL. AT THAT TIME, SHE NOTED THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT ACCELERATING & CLIMBING PROPERLY. THERE WERE HIGH TENSION WIRE AHEAD, SO SHE ELECTED TO ABORT. THE ACFT WAS BANKED TO THE LEFT & WAS LANDED HARD WHILE IN A LEFT WING LOW, FORWARD SLIP. THE FLOATS SEPARATED, & SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CAME TO REST IN ABOUT 4 FT OF SALT WATER. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT FAILURE WAS FOUND EXCEPT THE LEFT FLOAT HAD 3 POPPED RIVETS & A QUANTITY OF WATER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/22/1984
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1240
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City KEY WEST
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33040
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GLF OF MEX.SEAPLANE BASE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1245 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID EYW
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 460
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 24081
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4460R
NTSB Number MIA84FA091
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 185F
Aircraft Series Identifier 185F
Aircraft Serial Number 185-02962
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 27 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 47
Airframe Hours 4043
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KEYWEST SEAPLANE SERVICE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5603 W, JR. COLLEGE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City KEYWEST
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code NONE
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SB
Departure City KEYWEST
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1239
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SB
Destination City DRY TORTUGA
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --