# NTSB CEN15LA272: Weatherly 620A, N4659N, Van Horn, TX, June 14, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 2015, 10:25 local (15:25 UTC) - Place: Van Horn, TX - Coordinates: 31.021944, -104.821388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0219&lon=-104.8214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 14, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91370 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91370/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91370 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA272 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Weatherly 620A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=9630603), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Weatherly 620A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=9630603), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting agricultural spray operations and had completed two runs. During the third spray run, the engine lost power. The pilot dumped the load and then conducted a forced landing. A postcrash fire consumed the majority of the cockpit. The pilot reported that about 47 to 48 gallons of fuel was on board the airplane when he started the first run. An on-scene examination was not conducted, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 2015, about 1025 central daylight time, a Weatherly 620A airplane, N4659N, lost engine power near Van Horn, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot received serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Devil Dusters, Inc., and operated by Guadalupe Ag Services, Dell City, Texas, under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight originated from the Culberson County Airport (KVHN), Van Horn, Texas. The pilot was conducting spray operations on a pecan orchard and had already completed two runs. He stated that on the third run, the engine starting missing like the magnetos were failing. After he dumped the load, he looked for a place for a forced landing. The pilot recalled that prior to the first run the airplane had about 47-48 gallons of fuel on-board; 27 in the left side tank and 20 on the right. A post-crash fire consumed much of airframe and cockpit. During the forced landing, the airplane's engine separated from the airframe and substantial damage was sustained to the right wing. Due to the remote area, an on-scene investigation was not conducted; a reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4659N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4659N-2017-12-11), registration cancelled 2017-12-11, S/N 1541, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WEATHERLY AVIATION CO INC 620A - Registry model: [Weatherly 620A](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-620a) (registry code 9630603) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1541 - Year built: 1992 - Airframe hours: 5000 - Engines: Pratt & Whittney R-985 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Guadalupe Ag Services - Registered owner: Devil Dusters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 22, 2015 - Departed: Van Horn, TX - Destination: Van Horn, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review October 1, 2014; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 14,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20150614009869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150614009869A), Jun 14, 2015: Weatherly Aviation Co Inc 620A, Van Horn, TX, Destroyed. On June 14, 2015, at 11:25 a.m. central time, a Weatherly 620-A aircraft bearing registration number N4659N, registered to devil dusters inc., and leased to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91370. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433727&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.