# Accident 20020724019909A: Wthrly 201C, Malta, IL, July 24, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 24, 2002, 12:30 local time
- Place: Malta, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 41.9301° N, 88.8609° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9301&lon=-88.8609&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1296W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1296W-2018-02-28) (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
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA213) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020724019909A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON JULY 24, 2002, AT 1230 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A WEATHERLY 201C, N1296W, OPERATED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT COLLIDED WITH A CORN CROP FOLLOWING A LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT NEAR MALTA, ILLINOIS. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE TITLE 14 PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP IN MALTA, ILLINOIS, APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. (-23) AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE THREE MINUTES AFTER TAKE OFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP IN MALTO, ILLINOIS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND AN IN FLIGHT FIRE. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING INTO A CORN FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO BURN FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TO TEN MINUTES AFTER THE CRASH. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NO INJURIES. IN FLIGHT FIRE, POST CRASH FIRE.

## 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 CHI02LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA213), Jul 24, 2002: Weatherly 201C (N1296W), Malta, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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…

## Other reports on N1296W (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19870713034449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870713034449A), Jul 13, 1987: Wthrly 201C (N1296W), Louise, TX, Substantial damage. Unable to lift off. Tried to dump load but aircraft ran of end of runway into rough ground. Heat and load factors.
- [Accident 19840329007709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840329007709A), Mar 29, 1984: Wthrly 201C (N1296W), South Fulton, TN, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during emergency landing because water in fuel caused engine malfunction.

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.

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