Weatherly 201B accident near Streator, Illinois, July 16, 2000
On July 16, 2000 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Weatherly 201B, registered N1261W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Streator, Illinois (Rothrock airport). 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 preflight planning was inadequate which resulted in taking off in the wrong direction on the runway. Factors associated with the accident were the tailwind condition and the crop that the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2000 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Streator, Illinois · Rothrock · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly 201B · all 201Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1261W · no longer on the register · serial 615
- 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 airplane overran the runway during takeoff. The pilot reported he was not aware that the wind had shifted prior to takeoff and did not recognize it until it was too late. The takeoff was being made on runway 09 (2,400 feet by 60 feet, paved). The pilot reported the winds had shifted from the east to west to south. Winds reported at Bloomington, Illinois, 45 miles south of the accident site, 15 minutes after the accident, were from 270 degrees at 9 knots. The airplane traveled approximately 300 feet off the departure end of the runway and came to rest in a cornfield.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,443 hours in all; 183 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,245 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 2000; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from BMI, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.