Weatherly 620A accident near Doland, South Dakota, August 10, 2003
On August 10, 2003 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Weatherly 620A, registered N4656M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Doland, South Dakota (Hofer Private 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 failure to maintain clearance from the wires and directional control not being possible due to the failure of the brake system. Factors contributing to the accident were the wires, the trees, and the failure of the brake system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2003 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Doland, South Dakota · Hofer Private Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly 620A
- Registration
- N4656M · registry record · serial 1540
- 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 sustained substantial damage when it veered off the left side of the runway and impacted trees while landing. The pilot reported the airplane struck power lines while performing an aerial application to a field. The airplane remained airborne, and the pilot returned to his private airstrip about seven and a half miles south of the power lines. The pilot reported that the power line had wrapped around the landing gear and tore the brake line to the left and right main landing gear. The pilot stated that while en route to the airstrip he determined the landing gear brakes were not operational due to the impact with the wires.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 29, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,801 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 2003; 300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney 985 14-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SD13 Doland SD at 6:45 pm
- Destination: SD13 Doland SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 2,528 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from HON, 32 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.