# NTSB FTW94LA297: Weatherly 620TP, N4607C, Montrose, AR, September 13, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 13, 1994, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Montrose, AR
- Coordinates: 33.319961, -91.559051 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3200&lon=-91.5591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19160
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA297
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19160/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA297

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND THE RESULTANT AERODYNAMIC STALL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER REDUCING POWER ON FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE WHIPPED ABRUPTLY 30 DEGREES LEFT, THEN BACK TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT PUSHED THE STICK FORWARD AND ADDED LEFT AILERON AT APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET AGL. THE AIRPLANE THEN IMPACTED A DITCH, SLID ACROSS A ROAD AND CAME TO REST IN ANOTHER DITCH. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO ANOMALIES AND THE PILOT REPORTED HE EXPERIENCED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

## Factual narrative

On September 13, 1994, at 1015 central daylight time, a Weatherly 620TP, N4607C, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during approach near Montrose, Arkansas.  The airplane was flown by a commercial pilot for this aerial application flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and there were no injuries.

According to the pilot, while on final approach he throttled back in preparation for landing, the aircraft's nose then "whipped abruptly 30 degrees left, then back to the right."  He lowered the nose and added left aileron at approximately 30 feet AGL.  The airplane then impacted in a ditch, slid across a road and came to rest in another ditch.

An examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no anomalies were present and the pilot reported he experienced no mechanical difficulties.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4607C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4607C-1996-02-22), registration cancelled 1996-02-22, S/N 1508TP (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WEATHERLY 620TP
- Registry model: [Weatherly 620TP](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-620tp) (registry code 9630604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1508TP
- Airframe hours: 3523
- Engines: P&W PT-6-20 575 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Maglothin, James P. Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 1994, 180 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,200 total, 55 in this make and model, 4,150 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19940913026899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940913026899A), Sep 13, 1994: Wthrly 620TP, Montrose, AR, Substantial damage. Reduced power on final. Nosed whipped horizontily back and forth. Pushed stick forward. Impacted. Too slow. Stalled

## Other investigations on N4607C (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 MKC89LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA105), May 8, 1989: Weatherly 620TP (N4607C), Montrose, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE EXISTANCE OF A TAILWIND OF AVERAGE PROPORTIONS.

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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