Weatherly Aviation CO INC 620B accident near Coleman, Texas, November 12, 2016
On November 12, 2016 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1995 Weatherly Aviation CO INC 620B, registered N2035J, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Coleman, Texas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 12, 2016 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Coleman, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly Aviation CO INC 620B, built 1995 · all 620Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2035J · no longer on the register · serial 1592
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was practicing agricultural application operations on his first flight in the accident airplane. While climbing after completing a spray pass, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power and the pilot made a forced landing during which the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank was intact and void of fuel, while the left tank was breached, with fuel leaking from the tank. The fuel selector was in the right tank position. No engine anomalies were observed. The pilot had been advised by the owner to switch fuel tanks after flying about 40 minutes, but failed to do so. His advice was based on the engine's typical fuel burn of about 33 gallons per hour and fuel tank capacity of 35 gallons per wing tank. The owner estimated the airplane was airborne for about one hour before the accident occurred. Given the airplane's time in flight and the lack of fuel found in the right wing tank after the accident, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Workload management › (general) › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel indication system › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 615 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 605 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 27, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,786 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R-985 (piston); 9,792 hours total
- Operator: Burkett Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: PRI Coleman TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: PRI Coleman TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KBWD, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N2035J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN17LA038.