Weatherly 201B accident near Creston, Illinois, August 1, 2008
On August 1, 2008 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Weatherly 201B, registered N2936W, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Creston, 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of the unsuitable terrain next to the runway to avoid the landing traffic. Contributing to the accident was the hill in the middle of the runway that blocked the pilot's view of the other traffic and the high vegetation near the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2008 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Creston, Illinois · 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
- N2936W · no longer on the register · serial 602
- 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 pilot reported that he departed on an aerial application flight from the south end of a runway that had a hill about midway which blocked the view of the north end of the runway. He cleared for traffic and started his takeoff roll. Approaching the crest of the runway he saw an airplane landing in front of him. He steered his airplane into corn near the runway to avoid the collision.
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
What happened, in order
- Airport occurrence during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,051 hours in all; 356 in this make and model; 3,451 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IL93 Creston IL at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 CHI08CA231.