# NTSB ERA17CA251: Weatherly 620, N9270W, Pemberton Twp, NJ, July 19, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 19, 2017, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Pemberton Twp, NJ - Coordinates: 40.298419, -74.520263 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2984&lon=-74.5203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95618 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17CA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95618/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95618 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA251 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with a bird during takeoff, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and subsequent collision with trees and terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Weatherly 620, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=9630602), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901); cases with it: [Weatherly 620, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=9630602), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Weatherly 620, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=9630602), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Weatherly 620, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=9630602), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during takeoff, when the agricultural application airplane was about 15 ft above ground level, he noticed a decrease in engine performance, verified that the engine controls were full forward, and turned the fuel boost pump on. He dropped the hopper load; however, the airplane's performance continued to decrease. The pilot chose to land the airplane straight ahead, and the airplane impacted trees before coming to rest inverted in a bog. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Further, after the airplane was removed from the bog, the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident found feathers associated with a Canada goose near the engine and damaged propeller. According to the pilot, there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during takeoff, when the aerial application airplane was about 15 feet above ground level, he noticed a decrease in engine performance, verified that the engine controls were full forward and turned the fuel boost pump ON. He dropped the hopper load, however the airplane performance continued to decrease. The pilot elected to land the airplane straight-ahead and the airplane impacted trees prior to coming to rest inverted in a bog. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Furthermore, after the airplane was removed from the bog, the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident found feathers associated with a Canadian goose in the vicinity of the engine and damaged propeller. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9270W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9270W-2019-03-20), registration cancelled 2019-03-20, S/N 1505, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WEATHERLY 620 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Weatherly 620](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-620) (registry code 9630602) (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: 1505 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 6698 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 Series 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Jersey Devil Dusters LLC - Registered owner: Jersey Devil Dusters LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 2016 - Departed: PVT, Pemberton Twp, NJ - Destination: PVT, Pemberton Twp, NJ - Airport: PVT, AG Air Strip - Rake Pond Farms, runway PVT, 2,100 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 10, 2017; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 17,330 total, 1,525 in this make and model, 6,500 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: WRI, 5 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 20170719007229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170719007229A), Jul 19, 2017: Weatherly 620, Southhampton, NJ, Destroyed. On 7/19/17 at approximately 1845 the pilot initiated takeoff roll. Approximately 10-20 feet above the runway at approximately 80 mph. The pilot felt a drastic… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95618. 915 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 462 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456533&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456534&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo Array (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456536&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.