Weatherly 620 accident near Stockton, California, August 16, 1992
On August 16, 1992 at about 2:19 pm local time, a Weatherly 620, registered N4623E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stockton, California (Stockton 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING AND VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1992 · about 2:19 pm local time
- Place
- Stockton, California · Stockton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly 620
- Registration
- N4623E · no longer on the register · serial 1517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER COMPLETING AN AERIAL APPLICATION SWATH RUN THE PILOT ELECTED TO GO UNDER THE HIGH TRANSMISSION WIRES BUT FAILED TO OBSERVE THE LOWER WIRES. THE UPPER SECTION OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER STRUCK THE LOWER WIRES CAUSING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER TO SEPARATE. THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRPLANE TO STOCKTON AIRPORT, BUT LANDED SHORT BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE. THE PILOT DID NOT INDICATE THAT PRIOR TO COMMENCING THE SWATH RUN THAT HE FLEW OVER THE FIELD TO CHECK FOR OBSTACLES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,997 hours in all; 1,138 in this make and model; 1,997 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 1992; 438 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 103 Lodi CA at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29L, 2,996 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:20 pm from SCK, 1 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.