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20060622015179A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Wthrly 201B · Bowbells, ND · June 22, 2006

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
June 22, 2006 · 18:07 local
Place
Bowbells, ND
Phase of flight
Low Level Operations
Operating rules
Agricultural (Part 137)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N1263W
NTSB investigation
NTSBCHI06CA162
Reported as
Wthrly 201B
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
7,500 total2,500 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days
N1263WRegistration cancelled Aug 18, 2006 · Weatherly 201BS/N 617 · Built 1974Airframe modelWeatherly 201BEngine modelPratt & Whitney R-985 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot was applying herbicide to pasture land with general topography of hills and valleys. After completing a westward run, pilot turned southward and was unable to clear a hill that was approximately 500 feet higher than the surrounding terrain. The aircraft struck the ascending side of the hill with the underside of the aircraft causing substantial damage to the structure, landing gear assemblies, propeller and engine assemblies. The aircraft crested the hill in a skipping fashion coming to a rest approximately 100-125 yards from the first point of impact. The pilot reported the aircraft was on fire by the time the aircraft stopped moving and he evacuated immediately. Pilot suffered minor burns to his face and possible 2nd degree burns to his right hand. Fire appears to have emanated from the right aft side of engine, lower area where the oil cooler & carburetor is located. Considering the substantial damage sustained in the area, suspect engine fuel and oil ignited from sparks caused by aircraft impact with rocky terrain. Pilot readily states no mechanical issues/anomalies were experienced or suspected, he simply was unable to clear the terrain.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT WAS APPLYING HERBICIDE TO PASTURE LAND WITH GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY OF HILLS AND VALLEYS. AFTER COMPLETING A WESTWARD RUN, PILOT TURNED SOUTHWARD AND WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR A HILL THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET HIGHER THAN THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE ASCENDING SIDE OF THE HILL WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE, LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLIES, PROPELLER AND ENGINE ASSEMBLIES. THE AIRCRAFT CRESTED THE HILL IN A SKIPPING FASHION COMING TO A REST APPROXIMATELY 100-125 YARDS FROM THE FIRST POINT OF IMPACT. THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON FIRE BY THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED MOVING AND HE EVACUATED IMMEDIATELY. PILOT SUFFERED MINOR BURNS TO HIS FACE AND POSSIBLE 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO HIS RIGHT HAND. FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE EMANATED FROM THE RIGHT AFT SIDE OF ENGINE, LOWER AREA WHERE THE OIL COOLER & CARBURETOR IS LOCATED. CONSIDERING THE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE SUSTAINED IN THE AREA, SUSPECT ENGINE FUEL AND OIL IGNITED FROM SPARKS CAUSED BY AIRCRAFT IMPACT WITH ROCKY TERRAIN. PILOT READILY STATES NO MECHANICAL ISSUES/ANOMALIES WERE EXPERIENCED OR SUSPECTED, HE SIMPLY WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI06CA162Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBowbells, NDThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance to the rising terrain while maneuvering during the agricultural application flight. Contirbuting factors were the low altitude operation and the rising terrain.Jun 22, 2006 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N1263W · 4

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

Accident 19850315007409AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Davenport, WAVibration in engine and loss of oil pressure. Flipped over landing in a field. Crankcase breather plugged.Mar 15, 1985 · Substantial damageIncident 19780705042319ILow Level Operations · Lincoln, CALanding gear leg damaged when ag pilot struck a rice dike during application operations.Jul 5, 1978 · Minor damageAccident 19750909030429ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Davis, CAR brake master cyl o ring failedSep 9, 1975 · Reported as Wthrly 201A · Substantial damageAccident 19750511012379ALow Level Operations · Woodland, CAFlt under wires. Wheel struck ditch bank,broke scissors. Further dmg on ldg.May 11, 1975 · Substantial damage