# NTSB LAX82DA221: Weatherly 201B, N1280W, Greenfield, CA, June 15, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: June 15, 1982, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Greenfield, CA
- Coordinates: 36.259147, -121.370147 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2591&lon=-121.3701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 15, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70901
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82DA221
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70901/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA221

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - performed, pilot in command
  - terrain condition (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll
- Fire, standing

## Analysis

THE PILOT TOOK OFF WITH 1150 LBS OF SULFUR DUST AND A FULL LOAD OF FUEL. WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE FIELD TO BE DUSTED, HE WAS UNABLE TO DISPENSE HIS LOAD DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF LABORERS IN AN ADJACENT FIELD. WHEN THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT WITH HIS LOAD, HE TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY ON THE DIRT OVERRUN. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND THEN TOUCHED DOWN ON OR NEAR THE ROUNDED LIP OF THE PAVED RUNWAY. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED THE PAVEMENT, THE SCISSORS FAILED AND ALLOWED THE WHEEL TO ROTATE 90 DEGREES. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RIGHT WHEEL SKIDDED SIDEWAYS. AS THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT BRAKING ACTION TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY HEADING, THE PLANE FLIPPED OVER AND BURNED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1280W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: WEATHERLY 201B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 629
- Airframe hours: 2887
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Crop Flight Inc
- Registered owner: Crop Flight Inc
- Departed: 3CA7, GREENFIELD, CA
- Destination: 3CA7, GREENFIELD, CA
- Airport: 3CA7, Metz, runway 31, 2,500 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,100 total, 500 in this make and model, 3,950 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 122 °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 19820615022449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820615022449A), Jun 15, 1982: Wthrly 201B, Greenfield, CA, Destroyed. Landed short on overrun. Broke scissors on right gear hitting lip of paved runway. Nosed over braking for alignment

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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