# NTSB CEN22LA340: Weatherly 620A, N4651W, Stewart, MN, July 25, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 25, 2022, 06:30 local (11:30 UTC)
- Place: Stewart, MN
- Coordinates: 44.690705, -94.498339 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6907&lon=-94.4983&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105570
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA340
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105570/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105570
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA340

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from crops during an agricultural flight.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Knowledge: knowledge of geographic area](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032030): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weatherly 620A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032030/cases.md?model=9630603), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032030/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Weatherly 620A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=9630603), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Weatherly 620A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=9630603), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/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: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Weatherly 620A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=9630603), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was spraying a corn field and had descended back toward the field to make his next application pass. During the pass, he underestimated the height of the corn and the airplane settled more than expected. The main landing gear struck the corn, the airplane veered to the left, and the airplane impacted the ground. The engine separated and the airplane continued to spin to the left before it came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4651W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4651W-2024-12-07), registration cancelled 2024-12-07, S/N 1534 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WEATHERLY AVIATION CO INC 620A
- Registry model: [Weatherly 620A](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-620a) (registry code 9630603) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1534
- Year built: 1991
- Airframe hours: 6016.5
- Engines: Pratt and Whitney R-985-14B reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Classic Aero Crop Protection Inc., doing business as Classic Aero Crop Protection Inc.
- Registered owner: Classic Arrow Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 2022
- Departed: KHCD, Hutchinson, MN
- Destination: KHCD, Hutchinson, MN
- Airport: N/A
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 6, 2021; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 814 total, 235 in this make and model, 736 as pilot in command, 119 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: KHCD, 11 nm away
- METAR: SA	25/07/2022 11:15-> METAR KHCD 251115Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 12/12 A3011 RMK AO2 T01190119=

## 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 20220725007809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220725007809A), Jul 25, 2022: Weatherly Aviation Co Inc 620A, Stewart, MN, Substantial damage. The pilot was on his fourth pass that morning spraying a field of corn. As he dropped in over top of a tree grove the main landing gear contacted the corn 250…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105570. 4.6 MB in all.

- Photos (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14272235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14331954&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14376297&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Andrew%20Yates%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.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.

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