At 2110 Eastern time, the airplane collided with the Atlantic Ocean while maneuvering in closed traffic. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane received substantial damage. The non-instrument rated private pilot received serious injuries. The crew of an inbound flight overheard the accident pilot advise an approach controller he would be conducting touch-and-go landings. The crew coordinated with the accident pilot and informed him they would be first for the runway. The crew observed the airplane on TCAS and visually, noting its landing light was reflecting off the water. About 10 seconds later, the light went out and the flight was no longer showing on TCAS. The crew later noted there was very little moonlight and “a turn to the south with no light on the horizon can cause severe vertigo and disorientation.”
August 13, 2010, Key West, Fla., Cessna 172R
At 2110 Eastern time, the airplane collided with the Atlantic Ocean while maneuvering in closed traffic. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane received substantial damage. The non-instrument rated private pilot received serious injuries. The crew of an inbound flight overheard the accident pilot advise an approach controller he would be conducting touch-and-go landings.
Key Takeaways:
- An airplane piloted by a non-instrument rated private pilot crashed into the Atlantic Ocean at 2110 Eastern time during a closed traffic maneuver, causing substantial damage and serious injuries.
- Although visual conditions prevailed, another flight crew noted very little moonlight and suggested that a turn without horizon light could induce severe vertigo and disorientation.
- Witnesses observed the aircraft's landing light reflect off the water before going out, and its TCAS signal disappearing approximately 10 seconds before the impact.
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