Miami – Marathon – Key West

On January 15, 1977 at 02:11 PM, Miami – Marathon – Key West experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-3, operated by Air Sunshine, with the event recorded near Miami-Intl Florida.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

33 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 33 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 30, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. After takeoff from Miami-Intl Airport, while climbing to a height of 100 feet, the left engine failed. The pilot stopped climbing and was attempting to land on the remaining wet runway when the airplane banked left, causing the left wing to drop and to struck the runway surface. Upon impact, the left main gear was torn off. The airplane went out of control, crash landed and came to rest. All 33 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aircraft reference details include registration N73KW, MSN 2252, year of manufacture 1940.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 25.7950°, -80.2867°.