Weatherly 201C accident near Mc Clusky, North Dakota, June 5, 2007
On June 5, 2007 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Weatherly 201C, registered N1246W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mc Clusky, North Dakota (Mc Clusky Municipal 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to check for fuel contamination during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff due to water contamination. Contributing factors to the accident included the rough/uneven field and the collapse of the main landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2007 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mc Clusky, North Dakota · Mc Clusky Municipal Airport · 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
- N1246W · no longer on the register · serial 1010
- 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 agricultural airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The pilot reported that after liftoff the engine began to experience a loss of power. The pilot initiated a turn back toward the airport as the engine continued to lose power. The pilot elected to dump the airplane's chemical load prior to executing a forced landing in a field. The main landing gear separated from the airplane during the landing which resulted in wing and propeller damage. Subsequent to the accident, water contamination was found in the service tank used to fuel the accident airplane. Additionally, water contamination was found in the airplane's 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: 1,500 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,195 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985-ANI14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7G2 Mc Clusky ND at 3:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from KBIS, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CHI07CA161.