Weatherly 201C accident near Malta, Illinois, July 24, 2002
On July 24, 2002 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Weatherly 201C, registered N1296W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Malta, Illinois. 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 inflight fire and loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. Factors associated with the accident were the lack of suitable terrain on which to land and the corn crop which was contacted during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2002 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Malta, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly 201C · all 201Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1296W · no longer on the register · serial 1004
- 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 collided with a corn crop during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported the airplane experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. He reported that the fuel pressure indicated "ok", but he turned the fuel boost pump on anyway. He selected a road on which to land, but was unable to land on it because of vehicle traffic. He then decided to land in a corn field that was next to the road. The corn field contained a crop that was 6 to 7 feet tall. The pilot reported the airplane traveled for about 25 yards prior to the left main gear being torn out. The airplane came to rest upright. The pilot reported there was a "small oil fire" in the engine compartment which he extinguished. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed signatures of an inflight fire. The carburetor did not show any evidence of fire. The carburetor and fuel pump functioned normally when bench tested. Some of the fuel lines were completely burned away. Those that weren't were found partially burned were still connected. The engine was rotated by hand. Compression and engine continuity were established on all cylinders. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
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: 3,415 hours in all; 228 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 3,320 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 2002; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,176 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Malta IL
- Destination: Malta IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from ARR, 25 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.
Other NTSB records under N1296W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.