ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 28650
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| Date: | Thursday 17 January 1985 |
| Time: | 02:05 EST |
| Type: |  Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain |
| Owner/operator: | Southern Express Airways |
| Registration: | N70CZ |
| MSN: | 31-7952169 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5256 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Atlantic Ocean, 300 yards off Key West, Monroe County, Florida -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Illegal Flight |
| Departure airport: | Key West, Florida (EYW/KEYW) |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THE OCEAN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM KEY WEST FLORIDA ON AN UNAUTHORIZED FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS A STUDENT PILOT WHO WORKED AS A REFUELER OF AIRCRAFT. THE STUDENT PILOT TOOK THE UNATTENDED PARKED AIRCRAFT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND WENT FOR A SOLO FLIGHT AT SOMETIME AROUND 02:00 HOURS. THE FLIGHT ENDED ALMOST AS SOON AS IT BEGAN AS THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THE OCEAN 300 YARDS OFFSHORE FROM KEY WEST, FLORIDA. THE AIRCRAFT SANK IN 10 FEET OF WATER.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
FLIGHT CONTROLS..IMPROPER USE OF..PILOT IN COMMAND
VISUAL/AURAL PERCEPTION..PILOT IN COMMAND
PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES..IMPROPER..PILOT IN COMMAND
OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY..PILOT IN COMMAND
JUDGMENT..POOR..PILOT IN COMMAND
ALTITUDE..NOT MAINTAINED..PILOT IN COMMAND
EMOTIONAL REACTION..PILOT IN COMMAND
PROPER CLIMB RATE..NOT ATTAINED..PILOT IN COMMAND
LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OPERATION..PILOT IN COMMAND
CLEARANCE..NOT MAINTAINED..PILOT IN COMMAND
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION..PILOT IN COMMAND
Sources:
1. NTSB Identification: MIA85LA082 at https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001214X35578&key=1
2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=70CZ
3. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.baaa-acro.com/1985/archives/crash-of-a-piper-pa-31-navajo-chieftain-in-key-west/]
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 30-Apr-2015 19:37 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 30-Apr-2015 19:40 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:16 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:20 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 04-Oct-2017 18:04 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Source] |
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