# NTSB FTW92LA101: Weatherly 201B, N1268W, Weatherford, OK, March 30, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1992, 14:49 local (20:49 UTC)
- Place: Weatherford, OK
- Coordinates: 35.529933, -98.680984 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5299&lon=-98.6810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18468
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92LA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18468/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA101

## Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel system,selector/valve - corroded (cause)
  - fuel system,selector/valve - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

DURING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS THE PILOT LOST COMPLETE ENGINE POWER FOLLOWING FUEL TANK SWITCHING FROM THE LEFT TANK TO THE RIGHT TANK. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN STORAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR PRIOR TO BEING PLACED IN SERVICE. THE FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO THE ONLY AVAILABLE TERRAIN, A TERRACED AREA. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL. FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF CONTROL AIRPLANE STRUCK SOME TREES AND GROUND LOOPED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE FUEL SELECTOR DUE TO CORROSION OF INTERNAL COMPONENTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1268W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1268W-2012-06-07), registration cancelled 2012-06-07, S/N 622, built 1974 (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: 622
- Engines: P&W R985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Ruben J. James
- Registered owner: Ruben J. James
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000, 1 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,867 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,699 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 45° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19920330007809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920330007809A), Mar 30, 1992: Wthrly 201B, Weatherford, OK, Substantial damage. Engine quit on spray run. Crash landed. Fuel selector corroded, failed, resulting in fuel starvation.

## Other investigations on N1268W (1)

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 DEN84LA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA270), Aug 27, 1984: Weatherly 201B (N1268W), Grand Forks, ND, substantial damage

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.

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