Weatherly 620B N2035J

Summary

On 12 November 2016 at about 19:00 local time, a Weatherly 620B registered N2035J, operated by Burkett Aviation, was involved in an accident near Coleman, Texas, 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

12 November 2016 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Coleman, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.8800, -99.2800

Aircraft

Weatherly 620B

Registration

N2035J

Category

Airplane

Year built

1995

Engines

1

Operator

Burkett Aviation

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Coleman → Coleman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17LA038

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was practicing agricultural application operations on his first flight in the accident airplane. While climbing after completing a spray pass, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power and the pilot made a forced landing during which the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank was intact and void of fuel, while the left tank was breached, with fuel leaking from the tank. The fuel selector was in the right tank position. No engine anomalies were observed. The pilot had been advised by the owner to switch fuel tanks after flying about 40 minutes, but failed to do so. His advice was based on the engine's typical fuel burn of about 33 gallons per hour and fuel tank capacity of 35 gallons per wing tank. The owner estimated the airplane was airborne for about one hour before the accident occurred. Given the airplane's time in flight and the lack of fuel found in the right wing tank after the accident, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.