Weatherly 201C N1296W

Summary

On 24 July 2002 at about 16:00 local time, a Weatherly 201C registered N1296W was involved in an accident near Malta, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 July 2002 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Malta, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

41.9301, -88.8609

Aircraft

Weatherly 201C

Registration

N1296W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Malta → Malta

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI02LA213

Nobody was injured.

The inflight fire and loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. Factors associated with the accident were the lack of suitable terrain on which to land and the corn crop which was contacted during the landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with a corn crop during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported the airplane experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. He reported that the fuel pressure indicated "ok", but he turned the fuel boost pump on anyway. He selected a road on which to land, but was unable to land on it because of vehicle traffic. He then decided to land in a corn field that was next to the road. The corn field contained a crop that was 6 to 7 feet tall. The pilot reported the airplane traveled for about 25 yards prior to the left main gear being torn out. The airplane came to rest upright. The pilot reported there was a "small oil fire" in the engine compartment which he extinguished. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed signatures of an inflight fire. The carburetor did not show any evidence of fire. The carburetor and fuel pump functioned normally when bench tested. Some of the fuel lines were completely burned away. Those that weren't were found partially burned were still connected. The engine was rotated by hand. Compression and engine continuity were established on all cylinders. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.