What happened
On February 15, 2026, at approximately 11:55 EST, a Cessna A185F, registration N7574N, crashed near Everglades City, Florida. The aircraft was operating under Part 91 as a personal flight.
According to preliminary ADS-B data, the flight departed from Marco Island Executive Airport (MKY) at 11:16. The aircraft flew southeast toward the coastline, following the coast and performing several turns until reaching Pavilion Key, Florida. After passing Pavilion Key, the plane turned northwest, following the coastline back toward the mainland. Approximately five miles west of Everglades City, the aircraft performed multiple low-altitude maneuvers over the Ten Thousand Islands section of Everglades National Park. The final ADS-B data point was recorded roughly 0.5 miles east of the accident site.
The aircraft was discovered upside down in the water. During high tide, only the floats were visible above the waterline, while during low tide, the floats and approximately half of the fuselage were exposed. The aircraft's amphibious landing gear and water rudders were both found in the "UP" position.
The accident resulted in 1 fatal and 1 serious injury.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the wreckage showed substantial damage to the fuselage, primarily located in the forward section.
Investigators confirmed flight control continuity from the cockpit to all surfaces. While binding was noted in the rudder pedals, this was consistent with damage to the right water rudder sustained during the recovery process. The flaps were found in the 10-degree position; although the handle was impact-damaged, the flaps operated normally. The horizontal stabilizer trim jack screws measured 5.5 inches and were near the nose-up stop.
Regarding the restraint systems, the pilot-side 3-point shoulder harness remained attached and undamaged, though the buckle was found unlatched. The passenger-side restraint system remained attached, but one of the harness restraints had been cut. The buckle for this system was also found unlatched. The pilot's seat inertia reel secondary seat stop functioned normally during testing.