Tuesday, September 03, 2019

Weatherly 620B, N90104: Fatal accident occurred September 02, 2019 in Russellville, Franklin County, Alabama

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Birmingham, Alabama

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/N90104

LocatiLocation: Russellville, AL
Accident Number: ERA19LA263
Date & Time: 09/02/2019, 0922 CDT
Registration: N90104
Aircraft: Weatherly 620
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural 

On September 2, 2019, about 0922 central daylight time, a Weatherly Aviation Company 620B, N90104, was destroyed following a collision with power lines and terrain near Russellville, Alabama. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The flight was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed near the accident site, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from a private, grass airstrip about 0915.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site, the pilot was applying insecticide and plant regulator to a cotton field. During the first pass of the flight, the airplane overflew a road and collided with power lines, breaking two of the four wires. The airplane was traveling in a westerly direction at the time. The airplane struck the top of a tree, breaking several limbs. The airplane then collided with the ground and caught fire.

The wreckage path was about 300 feet in length. After the initial impact with the ground, the main wreckage continued for about 50 ft before coming to a stop. Several unidentified sections of the airframe were lodged about 20 to 30 feet up a tree. The fuselage, from the engine to the empennage, was consumed by the postaccident fire.

The pilot, who owned the airplane, held an FAA commercial pilot certificate with single engine land privileges. He reported 5,200 hours total flight time on his latest FAA second class physical application, dated January 17, 2019.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Weatherly
Registration: N90104
Model/Series: 620 B
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137) 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: MSL, 551 ft msl
Observation Time: 0953 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 20 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C / 21°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots / , 310°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.11 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Trinity, AL (NA)
Destination: Trinity, AL (NA)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 34.539444, -87.530833 (est)

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.


Anthony “A.C.” Cottingham



WAAY 31 learned more about the 49-year old man who died Monday morning in a plane crash.

The family of Anthony Cottingham stood down the road from where his plane went down with tears in their eyes, in disbelief that their beloved "AC" won't be coming back home tonight to celebrate the holiday with them.

"It's like a thump in my heart," Elliott Parker, the victim's lifelong friend, said.

Parker said Cottingham got into flying crop duster planes because of him, and was the safest crop duster pilot he knew

"He used to come to my house and talk to me all the time when he wanted to get into it about crop dusting, so he started out learning how, that's what he was doing, that's what he loved," he said.

Parker said being a crop duster pilot is a very dangerous job, and says he has been in seven crop duster accidents before.

He said Cottingham was his 13th friend to die in one.

Parker said even though it hurts that he's gone, it gives him a sense of peace knowing he died doing what he loved.

"He was telling me awhile ago if he died in a plane crash, even if he burned, he was doing what he loved to do," he said.

Police said Cottingham's body had been through a great amount of trauma because of the crash. They said they are asking for thoughts and prayers for the family during this hard time.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating what caused the crash. Police say it could be awhile before they have details on exactly what happened.

Story and video ➤ https://www.waaytv.com

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Alabama  (WAFF) - Franklin County deputies confirm a pilot was killed when his crop duster crashed.

The crop duster went down in a cornfield near County Line Road in Russellville between Franklin and Lawrence counties. It happened around 9 a.m. Monday.

The pilot was identified as Anthony Cottingham.

Our news partners at the Decatur Daily report that he was the director of the Lawrence County Airpark in Courtland. 

Deputies say when they arrived they saw smoke and flames coming from the plane.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Original article can be found here: https://www.wsfa.com