Weatherly 620-B accident near Osage, Iowa, August 6, 2005
On August 6, 2005 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Weatherly 620-B, registered N6305W, was destroyed in an accident near Osage, Iowa (Osage Municipal Airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Contributing factors were the wires and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2005 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Osage, Iowa · Osage Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly 620-B
- Registration
- N6305W · no longer on the register · serial 1563
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The agricultural spray airplane was destroyed by post impact fire after it impacted a power line and trees following a loss of engine power while departing from a 3,400 foot asphalt runway. The pilot reported that he had landed to refuel and take on chemicals. He reported that it was the sixth load of the day, and that the load was identical to the other five loads used previously. He reported that the airplane lifted off from the runway at the same place as the previous takeoffs. He reported that the "aircraft began to lose power about 10 ft. off the ground. There wasn't enough runway left to land so I dumped the load until I was close to the trees." He reported that he impacted the wires and settled into the trees that were located south of the runway. The airplane impacted the terrain and started to burn. The pilot reported that witnesses rescued him from the burning airplane. Tree limbs were found in the wreckage path that exhibited diagonal cuts and paint transfer marks that were consistent with propeller slashes. Fire damage to the engine precluded an inspection of the engine's ignition and fuel system.
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: 7,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005; 55 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: D02 Osage IA at 10:15 pm
- Destination: Osage IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from MCW, 20 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 N6305W 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.