Pilot and Two Passengers Swim Away Unscathed After Ditching Near FL Keys

For reasons yet unknown, a 1989 Waco Classic biplane ended the year with a splash as it was ditched off Sombrero Beach, FL, near the Marathon airport in the FL Keys.

The Jacobs powered bipe reportedly suffered some manner of power interruption, while the pilot called for a Mayday on the local unicom frequency and managed what appears to be a pretty well-controlled ditching into the Atlantic.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office confirms that there were three people on board the Conch Air Waco flight-seeing aircraft (three men, according to local media reports), the pilot and two passengers. All three occupants refused medical attention (but probably did ask for a towel...) and the aircraft appeared to suffer very little damage in the unplanned arrival away from Terra Firma. Unfortunately; while the aircraft was pulled from the ocean fairly quickly, ANY immersion in salt water probably makes the bird a write-off.

ANN Reader Glen Gates was in the pattern at the time of the accident and reported that he heard the Mayday calls and told ANN that he heard... "a very calm voice says, 'MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, Waco going down.' This chilling message on the common frequency is about as rare as hens teeth... I heard the pilot say it again when he added 'position one mile south of Marathon.'"

The airplane, N64JE, is owned and operated by Conch Air, of Marathon, FL. Conch Air offers air tours, sightseeing rides, aerobatic rides and has a special offer of a "Free Ride To Anyone Over 100 Years of Age." Reader Gates reports that he flew with Conch Air's pilot, Paul, about a year ago and found him to be a "pretty good aviator" and based on the success of the ditching, we have a reason to suspect that Glen's judgement is right on the money.

N64JE is a red/yellow 1989 Waco Classic, powered by a Jacobs R755B radial engine producing some 275 HP. With a stall speed in the neighborhood of 51 kts, the bird obviously offered the safety of being able to flare at a slow speed prior to water impact (indeed, our experience flying this breed of aircraft revealed exceptional handling in the low-speed regime right up to and through the stall). The accident occurred about 1435, and within minutes, over a half dozen watercraft were close to the aircraft and assisted in extricating the pilot and passengers and assisting them back to solid ground. The aircraft reportedly took several minutes to sink, offering more than sufficient time for the occupants to clear the aircraft and get to the boats.
(ANN thanks reader Glen Gates and the Monroe Co. Sheriff for the pix).

FMI: www.conch-air.com, www.wacoclassic.com