Dehavilland DHC-3 accident near Dry Tortugas, Florida, April 11, 2026
On April 11, 2026 at about 8:45 am local time, a 1954 Dehavilland DHC-3, registered N708KA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Dry Tortugas, Florida. It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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
- April 11, 2026 · about 8:45 am local time
- Place
- Dry Tortugas, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland DHC-3 NO SERIES, built 1954 · all DHC-3s on the register
- Registration
- N708KA · registry record · serial 59
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 11, 2026, about 0845 eastern daylight time, an amphibious DeHavilland DHC-3, N708KA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Dry Tortugas, Florida. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 repositioning flight. The pilot reported that he taxied the airplane away from the beach and completed the pre-takeoff checklist for water operations. After aligning the airplane into the wind, he initiated the water run for takeoff. At 70 mph, he applied aft yoke pressure, but the airplane did not liftoff. He then felt resistance on the right side and the airplane began to yaw to the right. The airplane subsequently pitched abruptly forward and nosed over into the water, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector established flight control continuity from the cockpit to all primary and secondary flight controls. The elevator trim was found in the full nose-down position. The examination revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 21,832 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 28, 2026; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,367 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Destination: EYW Key West FL
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 15 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 am from EYW, 61 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KEYW 111253Z AUTO 06015G24KT 10SM CLR 24/18 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP221 T02440178 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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 ERA26LA172.