# NTSB OAK66F0027: Fairchild M62, N68444, Westley, CA, July 22, 1965

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: July 22, 1965
- Place: Westley, CA · WESTLEY, CA
- Location: 37.5469° N, 121.2009° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Westley, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5469&lon=-121.2009&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 1965
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 176765
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK66F0027
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK66F0027

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1782  65/7/22    WESTLEY CALIF       FAIRCHILD M62       CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 36, 1000
        TIME - 1730                    N68444              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 400 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WESTLEY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - BEANS                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  70
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68444](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68444-2013-05-02), registration cancelled 2013-05-02, S/N 4593-AE, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD M62
- Registry model: [Fairchild M-62C(PT-23A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-m-62c-pt-23a) (registry code 3371630) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Westley

## Other investigations on N68444 (2)

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 LAX85LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA113), Jan 10, 1985: Fairchild M-62C (N68444), Ballico, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB OAK69A0003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK69A0003), Jul 16, 1968: Fairchild WM-62C (N68444), Crows Lndng, CA, substantial damage

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.