Dry Tortugas - Key West

On April 23, 2019 at 12:00 PM, Dry Tortugas - Key West experienced a crash involving Cessna 208A Caravan, operated by Tropic Ocean Airways, with the event recorded near Dry Tortugas Florida.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

5 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 5 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The pilot landed the seaplane into an easterly wind, then noticed that the surface wind was greater than forecast. Unable to taxi to the beaching location, he elected to return to his destination. He maneuvered the airplane into the wind and applied takeoff power. He described the takeoff run as "bumpy" and the water conditions as "rough." The pilot reported that the left float departed the airplane at rotation speed, and the airplane subsequently nosed into the water. The pilot and passengers were assisted by a nearby vessel and the airplane subsequently sank into 50 ft of water. Inclement sea and wind conditions prevented recovery of the wreckage for 52 days, and the wreckage was stored outside for an additional 13 days before recovery by the salvage company. Extensive saltwater corrosion prevented metallurgical examination of the landing gear components; however, no indication of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure was found.

Aircraft reference details include registration N366TA, MSN 208-0249, year of manufacture 1996.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 24.6652°, -82.8554°.