# NTSB DFW06LA087: Weatherly 201B, N1257W, Hondo, TX, March 21, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 21, 2006, 10:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Hondo, TX - Coordinates: 29.3555555555556, -99.1727777777778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3556&lon=-99.1728&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63373 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63373/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06LA087 ## Probable cause A loss of aircraft control for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, climb - aerial application equipment - activated (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The 325-hour pilot was testing the calibration of the spray function on a single-engine agricultural airplane by making low passes over a field adjacent to a runway. Upon completion of the first spray pass, the pilot increased his pitch angle, and entered a left turn. During this time, a witness observed water being dumped from the airplane. The airplane continued to pitch up, then it rolled to the right, and impacted the ground nose first. Due to impact damage, it could not be determined if there was a mechanical problem with the dump valve. However, the dump valve was found in the full open position and the stop for the handle was in a position that would have kept it from being returned to the closed position. ## Factual narrative On March 21, 2006, at 1040 central standard time, a single-engine Weatherly 201B agricultural airplane, N1257W, was destroyed upon impact with terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering near the Hondo Municipal Airport, near Hondo, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Rusty's Flying Service, of Hondo, Texas, and operated by Ag Flyers Incorporated, of Hondo, Texas. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local calibration flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to a witness, who was also the operator's Chief Pilot, the purpose of the flight was to observe the calibration of the hopper. The pilot planned to make two passes over a field and then land. Approximately 100-gallons of water were loaded into the hopper. The pilot performed a pre-flight inspection, then started the airplane, taxied to the runway, and departed on Runway 35R. The Chief Pilot stated that after the airplane took off, it turned 180 degrees and flew along the west side of Runway 17R. The airplane then turned another 180 degrees and started the spray-run. The witness added that, "after completion of his spray pass [the pilot] pulled-up and started to turn left. I saw water being dumped from the aircraft; the aircraft pitched-up, rolled to the right and impacted the ground nose-first." The airplane came to rest in a field northwest of Runway 35L. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety inspector, who examined the airplane, reported that due to impact damage, he could not determine if there was a mechanical problem with the dump valve. However, he reported that the dump valve was found in the full open position and the stop for the handle was in a position that would keep it from being returned to the closed position. The pilot held a commercial certificate for airplane single-engine land. His most recent FAA second class medical was issued on December 14, 2005. At the time of his last physical examination, he reported a total of 325 flight hours. According to the operator, the pilot had accrued 9 hours in the accident airplane, of which 8 hours were accumulated in the 30 days preceding the accident. Weather at the airport at 0951, was reported as wind from 030 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles, temperature 60 degrees Fahrenheit, dewpoint 25 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.15 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1257W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1257W-2013-08-16), registration cancelled 2013-08-16, S/N 611, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Weatherly 201B - Registry model: [Weatherly 201B](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-201b) (registry code 9630408) (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: 611 - Airframe hours: 4096.3 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney 985 450 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Ag Flyers, Inc. - Registered owner: Rusty's Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2006 - Departed: HDO, Hondo, TX - Airport: HDO, Hondo Municpal, runway 35L, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 300 total, 190 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: HDO ## 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 20060321004519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060321004519A), Mar 21, 2006: Wthrly 201B, Hondo, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) The aircraft was doing calibration runs and during the left pull-up and turn, the emergency dump deployed the remaining water in the tank (approx 60-80… 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.