Weatherly 620 accident near Greeley, Colorado, April 30, 1987
On April 30, 1987 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Weatherly 620, registered N9256W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greeley, Colorado (Greeley Weld County airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 1987 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Greeley, Colorado · Greeley Weld County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly 620
- Registration
- N9256W · no longer on the register · serial 1501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEPARTED WITH FULL FUEL IN THE ACFT TO PRACTICE AERIAL SPRAYING TECHNIQUES. AFTER 45 MINS OF PRACTICE HE RETURNED TO THE ARPT FOR LANDING. HE SAID THAT PRIOR TO ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN HE SWITCHED FROM THE HALF-FULL RIGHT TANK TO THE FULL LEFT TANK. THREE MINS LATER, WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG AT 300-400 FT AGL, THE ENG LOST PWR. THE PLT SAID HE WAS TOO LOW TO LOOSEN HIS SHOULDER HARNESS AND FEEL THE FUEL SELECTOR BUT HE VISUALLY CHECKED IT AND IT APPEARED TO BE POSITIONED CORRECTLY. HE SAID HE APPLIED CARB HEAT AND TURNED THE BOOST PUMP ON BUT PWR WAS NOT RESTORED. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD ADJOINING THE ARPT BUT INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE ACFT ABOUT 20 FT AGL AND CRASHED. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF ACFT OR ENG. FUEL WAS PRESENT IN TANKS AND LINES. ENG WAS LATER TEST RUN WITHOUT DIFFICULTY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 604 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 102 in the last 90 days; 485 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1986; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 pm from FNL, 18 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.