# NTSB CHI02LA213: Weatherly 201C, N1296W, Malta, IL, July 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 2002, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Malta, IL - Coordinates: 41.930072, -88.860946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9301&lon=-88.8609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - DuPage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55298 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55298/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55298 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA213 ## 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 during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane collided with a corn crop during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported the airplane experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. He reported that the fuel pressure indicated "ok", but he turned the fuel boost pump on anyway. He selected a road on which to land, but was unable to land on it because of vehicle traffic. He then decided to land in a corn field that was next to the road. The corn field contained a crop that was 6 to 7 feet tall. The pilot reported the airplane traveled for about 25 yards prior to the left main gear being torn out. The airplane came to rest upright. The pilot reported there was a "small oil fire" in the engine compartment which he extinguished. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed signatures of an inflight fire. The carburetor did not show any evidence of fire. The carburetor and fuel pump functioned normally when bench tested. Some of the fuel lines were completely burned away. Those that weren't were found partially burned were still connected. The engine was rotated by hand. Compression and engine continuity were established on all cylinders. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2002, at 1100 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 CFR 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 7 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported the airplane experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. He reported that the fuel pressure indicated "ok", but he turned the fuel boost pump on anyway. He selected a road on which to land, but was unable to land on it because of vehicle traffic. He then decided to "go down" in a corn field that was next to the road. The corn field contained a crop that was 6 to 7 feet tall. According to the pilot, the airplane "stayed straight for maybe 25 yards, then aircraft slewed to the right and tore out the left main gear, then slewed to the left and came to a halt, staying right side up." The pilot reported that there was a "small oil fire" in the engine compartment which he extinguished. The wreckage was examined by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) West Chicago Flight Standards District Office. The inspector reported soot streaks were visible down the side of the fuselage. The carburetor did not show any evidence of fire. The carburetor and fuel pump functioned normally when bench tested. Some of the fuel lines were completely burned away. Those that weren't were found partially burned were still connected. The engine was rotated by hand. Compression and engine continuity were established on all cylinders. According to FAA records the pilot's commercial pilot certificate contained the limitation "Not valid for the carraige of persons or propery for compensation or hire or for agricultural aircraft operations." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1296W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1296W-2018-02-28), registration cancelled 2018-02-28, S/N 1004, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Weatherly 201C - Registry model: [Weatherly 201C](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-201c) (registry code 9630410) (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: 1004 - Airframe hours: 3250 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Hendrickson Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 2002, 47 hours before - Departed: Malta, IL - Destination: Malta, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 3,415 total, 228 in this make and model, 3,320 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: ARR, 25 nm away ## 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 20020724019909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020724019909A), Jul 24, 2002: Wthrly 201C, Malta, IL, Substantial damage. (.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… ## Other investigations on N1296W (2) 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 FTW87DRA09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87DRA09), Jul 13, 1987: Weatherly 201C (N1296W), Louise, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB ATL84FLT07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FLT07), Mar 29, 1984: Weatherly 201C (N1296W), South Fulton, TN, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 17, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55298. 367 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 323 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463825&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Registry (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463826&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Registry-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.