Piper PA-28-235 accident near Key West, Florida, June 14, 2026
On June 14, 2026 at about 2:35 pm local time, a 1972 Piper PA-28-235, registered N15564, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Key West, Florida (Key West Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2026 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- Key West, Florida · Key West Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235, built 1972 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N15564 · registry record · serial 28-7310056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 14, 2026, at 1035 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-235 airplane, N15564, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Key West, Florida. The pilot was not injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title Code of Regulations Part 91 flight. The pilot stated he rented the airplane and flew from Apopka, Florida to Key West International Airport (EYW), Key West, Florida, the previous day without incident. The next day the airplane was fueled, and he stated the preflight and engine run-up were normal. He reported that during the accident takeoff, just after rotation, about 60 knots and 60 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power. The pilot said that in an attempt to restore engine power, he confirmed that the engine throttle, mixture control and propeller pitch control were all full forward, but engine power was not regained. At a low altitude and without sufficient runway remaining, the pilot landed straight ahead. The airplane came to rest in a stand of mangrove trees and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The airframe and engine have been retained by the NTSB for further examination.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Santi Cali Aviation LLC
The flight
- Runway 09/2, 5,076 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from EYW, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KEYW 141353Z 19005KT 10SM FEW024 29/24 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP189 T02940239
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC26LA053.