N1296W

On July 24, 2002, at 1100 central daylight time, a Weatherly 201C, N1296W, operated by a commercial pilot collided with a corn crop following a loss of power while in cruise flight near Malta, Illinois. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from a private airstrip in Malta, Illinois, approximately 7 minutes prior to the accident.

The pilot reported the airplane experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. He reported that the fuel pressure indicated "ok", but he turned the fuel boost pump on anyway. He selected a road on which to land, but was unable to land on it because of vehicle traffic. He then decided to "go down" in a corn field that was next to the road. The corn field contained a crop that was 6 to 7 feet tall. According to the pilot, the airplane "stayed straight for maybe 25 yards, then aircraft slewed to the right and tore out the left main gear, then slewed to the left and came to a halt, staying right side up." The pilot reported that there was a "small oil fire" in the engine compartment which he extinguished.

The wreckage was examined by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) West Chicago Flight Standards District Office. The inspector reported soot streaks were visible down the side of the fuselage. The carburetor did not show any evidence of fire. The carburetor and fuel pump functioned normally when bench tested. Some of the fuel lines were completely burned away. Those that weren't were found partially burned were still connected. The engine was rotated by hand. Compression and engine continuity were established on all cylinders.

According to FAA records the pilot's commercial pilot certificate contained the limitation "Not valid for the carraige of persons or propery for compensation or hire or for agricultural aircraft operations."