# NTSB CHI97LA219: Weatherly 201C, N9054W, Stephen, MN, July 18, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 1997, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Stephen, MN - Coordinates: 48.449272, -96.869964 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4493&lon=-96.8700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10636 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10636/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA219 ## Probable cause the pilot's exceeding the design stress limits of the aircraft. A factor was the crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - crosswind component - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said he made a wheel landing on runway 17 with a crosswind from the left at 5 knots, gusting to 12 knots. He said that during the landing, the right main landing gear collapsed. An inspection of the airplane after the accident revealed no preexisting anomaly, and the right main gear collapsed from what appeared to be a side load. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 1997, at 1030 central daylight time, a Weatherly 201C, N9054W, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during rollout on landing on runway 17 (2700' x 60' dry/asphalt) near Stephen, Minnesota. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The local flight departed at 1000. The pilot said that he made a wheel landing and that during rollout the right main landing gear collapsed. He said that there was a crosswind from 110 degrees at 5 knots with gusts to 12 knots. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration said that he inspected the airplane and found no preexisting anomalies with the airplane. He stated that the failure appeared to him to be from a side load applied to the landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9054W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9054W), registered now, S/N 1022, built 1977 (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: 1022 - Engines: P&W R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Curtis H. Larson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: D41 - Airport: D41, Stephen Municipal, runway 17, 2,700 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,805 total, 784 in this make and model, 1,757 as pilot in command, 144 in the last 90 days, 137 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 5 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °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 19970718019069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970718019069A), Jul 18, 1997: Wthrly 201C, Stephen, MN, Substantial damage. Landed left gear first. Wind gust caused side load to right mand and it folded. Damaged wing spar. Weak side brace. (-23) as the pilot lined up with the runway… ## Other investigations on N9054W (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 CEN11CA565](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA565), Aug 10, 2011: Weatherly 201C (N9054W), Bronson, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. - [NTSB CHI94LA320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA320), Sep 11, 1994: Weatherly 201C (N9054W), Stephen, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: improper rigging of the parking brake control cable resulting in inadvertent application of the left wheel brake. 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.