Weatherly 620 accident near Fabens, Texas, October 17, 2019
On October 17, 2019 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1996 Weatherly 620, registered N9033T, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Fabens, Texas. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power wires while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 2019 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 2019
- Place
- Fabens, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly 620 B, built 1996
- Registration
- N9033T · no longer on the register · serial 1643
- 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 an agricultural application flight, he made six passes underneath power wires to complete the applications. On the seventh pass underneath the power wires, the wire deflector cable and the vertical stabilizer struck the wires. The pilot asserted that the vertical stabilizer jammed the rudder to the left, and the airplane entered a skidding left turn and then impacted terrain. The airplane was consumed by fire.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 24,000 as pilot in command; 700 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 13, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: E35 Fabens TX at 6:10 pm
- Destination: E35 Fabens TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 8:25 pm from KELP, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 30, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N9033T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9033T: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Weatherly 15 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985 1,593 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Fabens Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,064 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,966 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N9033T 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/GAA20CA033.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.