What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On may 29, 2025, at 1900 MDT a Weatherly 620B conducting an aerial application flight in Lewistown, MT suffered substantial damage. On may 30, 2025 at the scene of the accident the pilot gave the following statement: "as I climbed the hill I realized I didnt have the altitude or airspeed to make original route over the ridge to the left so I turned toward the valley to the right and by the time I got the nose headed downhill I was too low and sinking. I tried to jettison the load but missed the lever about the time I hit the ground."
As the FAA filed it
ON MAY 29, 2025, AT 1900 MDT A WEATHERLY 620B CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT IN LEWISTOWN, MT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ON MAY 30, 2025 AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT GAVE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: "AS I CLIMBED THE HILL I REALIZED I DIDNT HAVE THE ALTITUDE OR AIRSPEED TO MAKE ORIGINAL ROUTE OVER THE RIDGE TO THE LEFT SO I TURNED TOWARD THE VALLEY TO THE RIGHT AND BY THE TIME I GOT THE NOSE HEADED DOWNHILL I WAS TOO LOW AND SINKING. I TRIED TO JETTISON THE LOAD BUT MISSED THE LEVER ABOUT THE TIME I HIT THE GROUND."
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.