Weatherly 201-B accident near Wymore, Nebraska, July 8, 1989
On July 8, 1989, a Weatherly 201-B, registered N1286W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wymore, Nebraska. 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 AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE DURING CLIMBOUT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1989
- Place
- Wymore, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly 201-B · all 201-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1286W · no longer on the register · serial 640
- 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 SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE ACFT SHUDDERED AND SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND. AFTER ATTAINING ABOUT 10 OR 15 FEET OF ALTITUDE; THE ACFT BOUNCED OFF A FARM FIELD AND CAREENED INTO SOME TREES CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE SURFACE TEMPERATURE WAS 100 DEGREES F. AND THE WIND WAS CALM. THE PLT SAID HE THOUGHT THE WEATHER CONDITONS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 2,565 hours in all; 1,120 in this make and model; 159 in the last 90 days; 126 in the last 30 days; 2,367 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,471 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 1989; 159 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NE92 Wymore NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.