# NTSB FTW99LA251: Weatherly 620B, N4660M, Big Spring, TX, September 2, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 1999, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Big Spring, TX - Coordinates: 32.240974, -101.469085 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2410&lon=-101.4691&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47305 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47305/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA251 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane impacted a dirt terrace during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power as a result of fuel exhaustion. According to the pilot, he was applying malathion to a field when he noticed that the fuel warning light for the right fuel tank was illuminated. He switched the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank, and subsequently, the engine lost total power. He executed a forced landing to a field where the airplane impacted a dirt terrace and came to rest upright. The operator reported that the pilot stated that the airplane 'ran out of fuel.' Examination of the fuel system revealed that there was no fuel present in the left fuel tank, and only a 'trace' of fuel was found in the right fuel tank. There was no fuel in the main fuel line or the carburetor. The integrity of the fuel system was not compromised. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 1999, at 1715 central daylight time, a Weatherly 620B agricultural airplane, N4660M, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Big Spring, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by Bruton Aerial Spraying, Inc., of Garden City, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from the Big Spring McMahon-Wrinkle Airport, Big Spring, Texas, at 1625. According to the 16,361-hour pilot, he was applying malathion to a field when he noticed that the fuel warning light for the right fuel tank was illuminated. He switched the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank, and "shortly thereafter [the] engine began cutting out and missing." He turned the auxiliary fuel pump on, but subsequently, the engine "coughed and quit." He executed a forced landing to a field where the airplane collided with a five-foot-high dirt terrace and came to a stop upright. The operator reported that the pilot stated that the aircraft "ran out of fuel." An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The inspector stated that the left main landing gear penetrated the wing structure, and the left wing spar was damaged. The engine mount was "sheared off." There was a "trace of fuel" in the right wing fuel tank, and the left wing fuel tank was "complete[ly] dry." He added that there was no fuel present in the main fuel line, and there was no fuel present in the carburetor. He stated that the integrity of the fuel system was not compromised. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4660M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4660M-1999-12-23), registration cancelled 1999-12-23, S/N 1553 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Weatherly 620B - Registry model: [Weatherly 620B](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-620b) (registry code 9630605) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1553 - Airframe hours: 1712 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Bruton Aerial Spraying Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 1999, 170 hours before - Departed: 21XS, BIG SPRING, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 16,361 total, 600 in this make and model, 16,207 as pilot in command, 218 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °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 19990902045069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990902045069A), Sep 2, 1999: Wthrly 620B, Big Spring, TX, No damage. (-23) On September 2, 1999, Mr. Ward aaron mills, a commercial rated pilot with a certificate number 522528992 was involved in a aircraft accidentof a… 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.