Weatherly 201B accident near Pemberton, New Jersey, June 22, 2015
On June 22, 2015 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 1975 Weatherly 201B, registered N1292W, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Pemberton, New Jersey (Pemberton 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the airplane's left main landing gear impacting an unknown object, and subsequent collapse during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 2015 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Pemberton, New Jersey · Pemberton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly 201B B, built 1975 · all 201Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1292W · registry record · serial 643
- 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 during the takeoff roll, the airplane drifted left of the runway center and the left main landing gear struck an unknown object in the tall grass. The pilot stated that he was unsure of the damage and continued his aerial application flight. During landing, observers on the ground determined that the left main landing gear was damaged. The pilot diverted to an airport that he determined would be more suitable for an emergency landing. During the landing, the left main landing gear collapsed, which caused substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Hidden/submerged object › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,460 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,209.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 7, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985-AN14B (piston); 10,375 hours total
- Operator: Jersey Devil Dusters LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Private NJ at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 3NJ1 Pemberton NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,568 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:58 pm from KWRI, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 N1292W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 GAA15CA169.