Weatherly Aviation CO INC 620A accident near Stewart, Minnesota, July 25, 2022
On July 25, 2022 at about 11:30 am local time, a 1991 Weatherly Aviation CO INC 620A, registered N4651W, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Stewart, Minnesota. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from crops during an agricultural flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2022 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Stewart, Minnesota · 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 620A, built 1991 · all 620As on the register
- Registration
- N4651W · no longer on the register · serial 1534
- 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 pilot reported that he was spraying a corn field and had descended back toward the field to make his next application pass. During the pass, he underestimated the height of the corn and the airplane settled more than expected. The main landing gear struck the corn, the airplane veered to the left, and the airplane impacted the ground. The engine separated and the airplane continued to spin to the left before it came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of geographic area › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 814 hours in all; 235 in this make and model; 119 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 736 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 6, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,016.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R-985-14B (piston); 10,034 hours total
- Operator: Classic Aero Crop Protection Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KHCD Hutchinson MN at 11:10 am
- Destination: KHCD Hutchinson MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 am from KHC, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): SA 25/07/2022 11:15-> METAR KHCD 251115Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 12/12 A3011 RMK AO2 T01190119=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 CEN22LA340.