Weatherly 201B accident near Hondo, Texas, March 21, 2006
On March 21, 2006 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Weatherly 201B, registered N1257W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hondo, Texas (Hondo Municpal airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of aircraft control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2006 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Hondo, Texas · Hondo Municpal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly 201B · all 201Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1257W · no longer on the register · serial 611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 325-hour pilot was testing the calibration of the spray function on a single-engine agricultural airplane by making low passes over a field adjacent to a runway. Upon completion of the first spray pass, the pilot increased his pitch angle, and entered a left turn. During this time, a witness observed water being dumped from the airplane. The airplane continued to pitch up, then it rolled to the right, and impacted the ground nose first. Due to impact damage, it could not be determined if there was a mechanical problem with the dump valve. However, the dump valve was found in the full open position and the stop for the handle was in a position that would have kept it from being returned to the closed position.
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
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,096.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2006
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney 985 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Ag Flyers, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: HDO Hondo TX at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35L, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from HDO
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.