News Release

Plane crashes near Cape Sable in Everglades National Park

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A partially submerged plane in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Cape Sable in Everglades National Park.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: January 23, 2021
Contact: Park Information, 305-242-7700
Contact: Allyson Gantt, 786-610-8023

On Jan. 22 at 4:25 p.m., Everglades National Park received notification of a small aircraft crash near Cape Sable. Park Rangers and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the remote beach area along the Gulf of Mexico in the park. Nearby campers at the East Cape Sable wilderness campsite rescued the four passengers and brought them back to shore. No injuries were reported.

The airplane, a single-engine Piper Saratoga, had taken off from Fort Myers headed for Marathon in the Florida Keys. The plane went down approximately one-half mile from shore in about 10 feet of water. A Notice to Mariners has been issued as the plane is mostly submerged with the tail protruding from the water.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation and coordinating the removal of the plane with the National Park Service. 

Park staff are monitoring the site and will be evaluating environmental impacts.

Additional details are not available at this time.

Tags: plane crash

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