# Accident 20000514006819A: Wthrly 201C, Ionia, KS, May 14, 2000 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 14, 2000, 09:00 local time - Place: Ionia, KS - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Location: 39.6708° N, 98.1496° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6708&lon=-98.1496&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9198W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9198W-2005-09-26) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Weatherly 201C (registry code 9630410, https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-201c) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series (registry code 52008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WTHRLY 201C - Reported engine: PWA R985AN1 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 5,325 total, 1,301 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI00LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA137) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000514006819A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.23) 5/26/200 ON MAY 14, 200 AT APPROX. 15:00 HOURS, A WEATHERLY 201-C (AG), N9198W WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT FIVE MILES SOUTH AND ONE HALF MILE EAST OF MANAKTO, KS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME. THE A/C LOST POWER AND IMPACTED IN A FARMERS PASTURE. THE PILOT OF THE A/C WAS MR. RICHARD M. HARRIS, OF BURR OAK, KS. WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ (.4) ON MAY 14, 2000, AT 0900 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A WEATHERLY 201C, N9198W, OWNED AND PILOTED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN, WHILE EXECUTING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AFTER A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR IONIA, KANSAS. THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. VISUAL METROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 137 AND WAS NOT ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT DEPARTED A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR BURR OAK, KANSAS, AT 0815, FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S WRITTEN STATEMEN T, WHEN HE DEPARTED HE HAD 23-GALLONS OF USEABLE FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND 39-GALLONS OF USEABLE FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK. THE PILOT REPORTED, "IN APP. [APPROXIMATELY] 45 MIN AFTER TAKE OFF THE ENGINE CUT OUT RESTARTED AND RUN FOR APP. 3 SECONDS, BY PUMPING THE THOROTLE [THROTTLE] THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RUN APP 2-3 SECONDS[.] THE RIGHT TANK LOW FUEL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN [THE] ENGINE FIRST CUT OUT." THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING OFF THE LEFT FUEL TANK FOR THE ENTIRE FLIGHT UP TO THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT CONTINUED, "I WAS FLYING APP. 300 FT AGL [ABOVE GROUND LEVEL]. THE SELECTOR WAS MOVE[D] BACK & FORTH FROM LEFT TO RIGHT A[T] LEAST 3 TIMES. BY PUMPING THE PRIMER I WAS ABLE TO FLY APP 2.5 MILES." THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AREA WHERE HE WAS FLYING WAS, "VERY ROUGH GROUND (RANGE LAND, WITH STEEP HILLS AND DEEP DRAWS...". THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AND DURING LANDING THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE EXPECTED FUEL BURN WAS 27-GALLONS PER HOUR. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) CONDUCTED AN ON-SCENE EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE ON MAY 14, 2000. ACCORDING TO THE INSPEC TORS STATEMENT, "OPERATION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR REVEALED A DETENT IN EACH POSITION. THE COWLING WAS REMOVED TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE, INSPECTION REVEALED THE VALVE INSTALLATION WAS CORRECT AND OPERATION APPEARED TO BE NORMAL. BOTH WING TANKS FUEL QUANTITY INDICATORS WERE ZERO, THE TANKS WERE VISUALLY INSPECTED AND WERE EMPTY. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK HAD DRAINED OUT DURING THE NIGHT." THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT HE COULD NOT CONFIRM OR DISPROVE THE PILOT'S CLAIM CONCERNING THE FUEL LEAK, BUT NOTED THAT THERE WAS THE SMELL OF FUEL AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRANSPORTED TO A MAINTENANCE FACILITY AND THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS EXAMINED. FAA RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS INSPECTED AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED. A DENTED FUEL LINE FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IDENTIFIED, BUT AN OPERATIONAL TEST OF THE LINE REVEALED NO RESTRICTION OF FUEL FLOW FROM THE RIGHT TANK. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI00LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA137), May 14, 2000: Weatherly 201C (N9198W), Ionia, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: the partial engine failure for undetermined reasons and the unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot. A factor to the accident was the hilly terrain condition. ## Other reports on N9198W (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19800905039509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800905039509A), Sep 5, 1980: Wthrly 201C (N9198W), Delta, UT, 1 fatal. Flagman moved into path of ag airplane by mistake, was struck by some part of aircraft. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.