Rockwell 680E accident near Key West, Florida, March 1, 1985
On March 1, 1985 at about 4:15 am local time, a Rockwell 680E, registered N709G, 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 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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 1985 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- Key West, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 680E
- Registration
- N709G · registry record · serial 680E86582
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A COAST GUARD FALCON ACFT WAS ON SCENE WHEN THE ACFT DITCHED IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. A LIFE RAFT & MARKER WERE DROPPED BY THE COAST GUARD ACFT. A SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED ALL DAY ON 3/1/85 & WAS CALLED OFF AT SUNSET ON ON 3/2/85. THE OCCUPANTS WERE PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN FATALLY INJURED OR DROWNED. THE ACFT WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.
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; single-engine sea
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GSO-480-B1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: National Bank Of Commerce
The flight
- Departed from: MZBZ Belize OF
- Destination: EWY Key West FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 am from EWY, 240 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.