On February 14, 1985, a Piper PA-23 (registration N3163P) was involved in an aviation accident near Everglades City, FL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft departed for a short flight and shortly after takeoff began a left turn, losing speed before rolling rapidly into the water at approximately 100 feet altitude.
What happened
The aircraft departed the airport intending to conduct a short flight with the objective of dropping off a single passenger. Shortly after leaving the ground, witnesses observed the aircraft initiating a shallow turn to the left while maintaining a nose-high attitude. As the maneuver continued, the aircraft began to lose airspeed. At an altitude of approximately 100 feet, the aircraft rolled rapidly to the left and subsequently contacted the water in Chokoloskee Bay.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft's propulsion system revealed that both engines exhibited evidence of high RPM being developed at the moment of impact.