Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9 accident near Florala, Alabama, June 11, 1983
On June 11, 1983 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9, registered N7284V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Florala, Alabama (Florala airport). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1983 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Florala, Alabama · Florala · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9 CALLAIR A- · all CALLAIR A-9s on the register
- Registration
- N7284V · no longer on the register · serial 1296
- 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 PLT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AT THE EDGE OF THE ARPT. HE NOTED THAT FUEL PRESSURE WAS LOST & REPORTED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN THE PRESSURE WITH THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE FULLEST TANK, BUT A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. DURING THE RESULTING FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT HIT 2 POWER LINES & SEVERAL TREES BEFORE CONTACTING THE GROUND. AN EXAM OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THERE WAS AN OBSTRUCTION OF SOME KIND AT THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, THE MATERIAL THAT OBSTRUCTED THE FUEL WAS NOT RECOVERED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,300 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,390 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 014 Florala AL at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from CEW, 19 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.
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.