Piper PA-28-160 accident near Key West, Florida, September 9, 1985
On September 9, 1985 at about 2:08 am local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5488W, was destroyed in an accident near Key West, Florida (Unknown 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 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
- September 9, 1985 · about 2:08 am local time
- Place
- Key West, Florida · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5488W · no longer on the register · serial 28-572
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT ITS INTENDED DESTINATION ON A FLT PLAN FROM FT. LAUDERDALE FL. TO KEY WEST FL. NAVY KEY WEST APCH WAS PROVIDING VFR FLT FOLLOWING, RADAR & RADIOCONTACT WAS LOST WITH THE ACFT 20 NE OF KEY WEST. THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE OCCUPANTS ARE UNKNOWN & THEY ARE PRESUMED FATAL. THE ACFT IS MISSING & THE DAMAGE INDEX IS PRESUMED TO BE 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: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: FLL Ft.Lauderdale FL at 1:23 am
- Destination: EYW Key West FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from EYW
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.