Accident Overview
On June 14, 2015, at about 1025 central daylight time, a Weatherly 620A airplane, registration N4659N, experienced a loss of engine power while conducting agricultural spraying operations near Van Horn, Texas. The pilot, who held an airline transport rating, sustained serious injuries. The aircraft, registered to Devil Dusters, Inc. and operated by Guadalupe Ag Services of Dell City, Texas, was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight had originated from Culberson County Airport (KVHN) in Van Horn.
Flight Details
The pilot was spraying a pecan orchard and had completed two passes. During the third run, the engine began to malfunction, described by the pilot as missing similar to magneto failure. After dumping the spray load, the pilot searched for a suitable forced landing area. Prior to the first run, the aircraft had between 47 and 48 gallons of fuel onboard, with approximately 27 gallons in the left tank and 20 gallons in the right.
Post-Accident Findings
A post-crash fire consumed much of the airframe and cockpit. During the forced landing, the engine separated from the airframe, and the right wing sustained substantial damage. Due to the remote location of the accident site, an on-scene investigation was not conducted. Consequently, a definitive reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.