Eagle Aircraft Co. DW-1-220 accident near Oklawaha, Florida, August 29, 1989
On August 29, 1989 at about 11:53 pm local time, a Eagle Aircraft Co. DW-1-220, registered N8802M, was destroyed in an accident near Oklawaha, Florida (Oklawaha Farms airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF CONTROL ON THE GROUND DURING THE LANDING ROLL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1989 · about 11:53 pm local time
- Place
- Oklawaha, Florida · Oklawaha Farms
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eagle Aircraft Co. DW-1-220
- Registration
- N8802M · no longer on the register · serial DW-1-0016-81
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT DEPARTED THE OPERATOR'S AIRSTRIP ABOUT 1700 FOR A FARM AIRSTRIP, TO BEGIN SPRAYING, BUT RETURNED. THE PLT/OWNER WORKED NEAR THE CARBURETOR. THE FLT DEPARTED ABOUT 1755 & LANDED WITH NO REPORTED UNUSUAL ENG SOUNDS. AN EMPLOYEE REPORTEDLY HEARD AN ACFT MAKE A SPRAY PASS JUST BEFORE DARK. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 2100 LYING IN A DITCH LOCATED NEXT TO THE RWY, PARTIALLY SUBMERGED & BURNING. IT WAS REMOVED PRIOR TO NTSB ARRIVAL. EXAM OF THE AIRSTRIP REVEALED THAT 2-3 FOOT TALL GRASS ALONG THE EDGE OF THE RWY WAS PUSHED WESTBOUND IN THE DIRECTION OF LANDING, AND THAT THE ACFT TRAVELLED OFF THE RT SIDE OF THE RWY INTO THE DITCH. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FLT CONTROL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE ENG RAN & OPERATED NORMALLY. EXAM OF THE ENG COMPARTMENT REVEALED THAT THE GASCOLATOR DRAIN VALVE SEPARATED. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED NEAR THE GASCOLATOR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 80 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 285 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,224 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from GNV, 40 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.