Weatherly 201B accident near Southampton, New Jersey, May 31, 2006
On May 31, 2006 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Weatherly 201B, registered N1281W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Southampton, New Jersey. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the engine's supercharger, which resulted in a loss of engine power, and subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2006 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 2006
- Place
- Southampton, New Jersey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly 201B · all 201Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1281W · registry record · serial 635
- 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 was conducting his third aerial application flight of the day, when the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a field; however, during the landing, the airplane impacted shrubs and came to rest in a marsh area. Examination of the airplane's Pratt & Whitney R985-AN3 radial engine revealed that when the crankshaft was rotated by hand, thumb compression was attained on all cylinders; however, the supercharger did not rotate.
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, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,600 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 826 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985-AN3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE South Hampton NJ
- Destination: Southampton NJ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from SMQ, 35 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1281W on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Weatherly 201 12 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Weatherly 15 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985-AN3 4 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in New Jersey 1,189 since 1982 · 135 in the last ten years
- New Jersey 3,017 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/NYC06LA142.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.