# NTSB GAA20CA033: Weatherly 620, N9033T, Fabens, TX, October 17, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 17, 2019, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Fabens, TX
- Coordinates: 31.654722, -106.303337 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6547&lon=-106.3033&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100450
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100450/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100450
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA033

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power wires while maneuvering at a low altitude.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weatherly 620B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=9630605), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Weatherly 620B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=9630605), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Weatherly 620B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9630605), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Weatherly 620B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=9630605), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Weatherly 620B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=9630605), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Weatherly 620B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=9630605), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during an agricultural application flight, he made six passes underneath power wires to complete the applications. On the seventh pass underneath the power wires, the wire deflector cable and the vertical stabilizer struck the wires. The pilot asserted that the vertical stabilizer jammed the rudder to the left, and the airplane entered a skidding left turn and then impacted terrain. The airplane was consumed by fire.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during an agricultural application flight, he made 6 passes underneath powerline wires to complete the applications. On the 7th pass underneath the powerline wires, the wire deflector cable and the vertical stabilizer struck the wires. The pilot asserted that the vertical stabilizer jammed the rudder to the left, and the airplane entered a skidding left turn. The airplane impacted the ground and the pilot exited the airplane. The airplane was consumed by fire. The airplane sustained substantial damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9033T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9033T-2020-04-30), registration cancelled 2020-04-30, S/N 1643, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Weatherly 620 (B)
- Registry model: [Weatherly 620B](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-620b) (registry code 9630605) (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: 1643
- Year built: 1996
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Roger J. Zeledon Dba
- Registered owner: Roger J. Zeledon Dba
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: E35, Fabens, TX
- Destination: E35, Fabens, TX
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 13, 2018; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 25,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 24,000 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KELP, 10 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 20191017023249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191017023249A), Oct 17, 2019: Weatherly Aviation Co Inc 620B, Fabens, TX, Destroyed. On October 17, 2019, at 1404 MDT, a 1996 Weatherly Aviation Co Inc 620B, N9033T, [privacy data omitted], clipped a power line and crashed into a cotton field…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100450. 675 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 507 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480207&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Photo (item 2, .PDF, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480208&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.