Cessna P-210N accident near Key West, Florida, February 21, 1984
On February 21, 1984 at about 4:41 pm local time, a Cessna P-210N, registered N731NJ, was destroyed in an accident near Key West, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 1984 · about 4:41 pm local time
- Place
- Key West, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P-210N · all P-210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N731NJ · no longer on the register · serial P210N0050
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING HIS WX BRIEFING THE PLT WAS GIVEN THE FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS & ENROUTE FORECAST ALONG HIS PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLT. ENROUTE AT 14,000 FT THE PLT ADVISED ARTCC THAT THE FLT HAD ENCOUNTERED RIME ICE. THE CONTROLLER CLEARED THE FLT TO DESCEND TO 12,000 FT & THE ACFT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR DURING THE DESCENT. ON 2/22 AN OIL SLICK WAS SIGHTED IN THE AREA WHERE IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE ACFT CRASHED. DEBRIS WAS FOUND FLOATING IN THE WATER WHICH IS BELIEVED TO HAVE COME FROM THE ACFT WRECKAGE. THE ACFT IS PRESUMED TO BE LOST AT SEA & THE INJURIES ARE PRESUMED. SIGMET PAPA-2, FORECASTING THUNDERSTORMS WITH CUMULUNIMBUS CLOUDS WITH TOPS UP TO 45,000 FT WAS ISSUED AT 0800 & WAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1200 FOR THE AREA OF THE ACFT DISAPPEARANCE.
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: 642 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 668 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 13, 1983; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,016 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EYE Key West FL
- Destination: MEI Meridian MS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 13 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from EYW, 60 miles away
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.