# NTSB LAX88DVM04: Weatherly 201B, N1265W, Soledad, CA, September 27, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 27, 1988, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Soledad, CA
- Coordinates: 36.390018, -121.299118 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3900&lon=-121.2991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25776
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88DVM04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25776/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88DVM04

## 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
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly - fire (cause)
  - engine assembly - undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER DETECTING SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT HE TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL SWITCHES AND MADE ONE MORE SPRAY PASS. AFTER THE PASS, SMOKE BECAME VISIBLE FROM THE ENGINE AND PART OF THE COWL SEPARATED. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LNDG IN A DRY RIVER BED AND EXITED ACFT. POST-LNDG FIRE CONSUMED ACFT, CAUSE OF POWER LOSS UNDETERMINED DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1265W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1265W-1990-09-04), registration cancelled 1990-09-04, S/N 619 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WEATHERLY 201B
- Registry model: [Weatherly 201B](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-201b) (registry code 9630408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 619
- Airframe hours: 3384
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Crop Flight, Inc., doing business as Crop Flight, Inc.
- Registered owner: Kenneth C Crone
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 1988, 138 hours before
- Departed: SOLEDAD, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 793 total, 311 in this make and model, 731 as pilot in command, 159 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 5 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Observed at: SNS, 18 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 19880927041239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880927041239A), Sep 27, 1988: Wthrly 201B, Soledad, CA, Destroyed. Engine fire erupted during a spray run. Smoke in cockpit. Crash landed and aircraft burned. Cause of fire unknown.

## Other investigations on N1265W (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 OAK78FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FA048), Sep 8, 1978: Weatherly 201B (N1265W), Greenfield, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal

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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