Socata TB 20 accident near Key West, Florida, November 5, 2004
On November 5, 2004, a Socata TB 20, registered N1905S, was destroyed in an accident near Key West, Florida (Key West International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control as a result of spatial disorientation. A related factor was the dark, night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 2004
- Place
- Key West, Florida · Key West International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB 20 · all TB 20s on the register
- Registration
- N1905S · no longer on the register · serial 1905
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane departed with an IFR clearance from Runway 9, and after takeoff turned to a heading of 180 degrees and climbed to 1,900 feet. Approximately 25 seconds before the last radar target was recorded, the flight was cleared to turn right to a heading of 360 degrees. The recorded radar targets occurred every 12 seconds; there was no report of a failure or malfunction of the radar site at or after the last recorded radar target. There was no distress call made by the pilot. The airplane crashed into the Straits of Florida; the wreckage was located approximately .55 nautical mile and 278 degrees from the last recorded radar target. The fuselage and both wings were fragmented. No evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction was noted to the airframe, engine, or flight instruments. Additionally, no heat or fire damage was noted to any recovered piece of the wreckage. The airplane was equipped with a standby electrically controlled vacuum pump, and also a standby electrically operated attitude indicator installed on the co-pilot's side of the instrument panel. The pilot's and co-pilot's attitude indicators each powered by a separate source both depicted postaccident the airplane in a steep nose-down attitude and right bank angle of approximately 60 degrees. The turn coordinator also indicated a bank angle greater than standard rate. The tachometer and airspeed indications both exceeded maximum limitations. The instrument rated pilot had accumulated a total flight time of 829 hours, 16 hours of which were accumulated on the accident airplane from April to November of 2004. The pilot's most recent logbook could not be located and no information was obtained regarding the pilot's currency on flying by instruments. According to the aircraft logbook, a new engine-driven vacuum pump was installed in July 2003. Altimeter, automatic pressure altitude reporting system, and static pressure system inspections, as well as transponder inspections and tests due every 24 calendar months, were last recorded as occurring in October 2002. The airplane was scheduled for an annual inspection 4 days after the accident. Dark night conditions existed in the area where the airplane was lost from radar.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 829 hours in all; 16 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 680.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2003; 145.0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,086 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4D5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KEYW Key West FL
- Destination: KSRQ Sarasota FL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.