- Date
- June 5, 2007, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Mc Clusky, ND
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1246WWeatherly 201C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 27, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 65963
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to check for fuel contamination during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff due to water contamination. Contributing factors to the accident included the rough/uneven field and the collapse of the main landing gear.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The agricultural airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The pilot reported that after liftoff the engine began to experience a loss of power. The pilot initiated a turn back toward the airport as the engine continued to lose power. The pilot elected to dump the airplane's chemical load prior to executing a forced landing in a field. The main landing gear separated from the airplane during the landing which resulted in wing and propeller damage. Subsequent to the accident, water contamination was found in the service tank used to fuel the accident airplane. Additionally, water contamination was found in the airplane's fuel system.
Factual narrative
The agricultural airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The pilot reported that after liftoff the engine began to experience a loss of power. The pilot initiated a turn back toward the airport as the engine continued to lose power. The pilot elected to dump the airplane's chemical load prior to executing a forced landing in a field. The main landing gear separated from the airplane during the landing which resulted in wing and propeller damage. Subsequent to the accident, water contamination was found in the service tank used to fuel the accident airplane. Additionally, water contamination was found in the airplane's fuel system.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1246W
- Reported as
- Weatherly 201C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1010
- Airframe hours
- 3,195
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R-985-ANI14B, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Jay Kurtz
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 2006
- Departed
- 7G2 · Mc Clusky, ND
- Airport
- 7G2 · Mc Clusky Municipal Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 24
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2006
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 1,500 total · 65 in this make and model · 1,500 as pilot in command · 65 in the last 90 days · 65 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- KBIS, 43 nm away