Intermountain Mfg. (Imco) CALLAIR A-7 accident near Newfolden, Minnesota, July 27, 1984
On July 27, 1984 at about 12:40 pm local time, a Intermountain Mfg. (Imco) CALLAIR A-7, registered N8240H, was destroyed in an accident near Newfolden, Minnesota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. 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
- July 27, 1984 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Newfolden, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Intermountain Mfg. (Imco) CALLAIR A-7 CALLAIR A-
- Registration
- N8240H · no longer on the register · serial 1214
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED AFTER COMPLETING TWO PASSES OVER THE FIELD BEING SPRAYED. BEFORE TAKEOFF THE ACFT WAS LOADED WITH 80 GALS OF LIQUID INSECTICIDE. THE PLTS BROTHER, WHO WAS ACTING AS A FLAGMAN, SAID THAT THE ACFT 'STARTED TO SPIRAL TO THE GROUND' AFTER ENTERING A RT TURN FROM ABOUT 100 FT AGL. THE BROTHER CONTINUED, 'IT LOOKED PRETTY SMOOTH. THE PLANE'S ENGKEPT RUNNING NORMALLY UNTIL IT HIT.' OTHER WITNESSES CONFIRMED THAT THE ACFT WAS UNDER POWER UNTIL THE 'THUD.' THERE WASNO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT MECHANICAL OR PHYSICAL REASONS FOR THE ACCIDENT. THE PLTS EXPERIENCE LEVEL WAS RECORDED ON AN APPLICATION FOR A MEDICAL EXAM ON 6/2/84 AS 500 FLT HOURS. ON 4/5/83 HE OBTAINED A FLT INSTRUCTOR CERT. THIS APPLICATIONSHOWED A TOTAL TIME OF 257 HOURS AND PIC TIME OF 153 HRS. THE RECORDS TO SUPPORT AERIAL APPLICATION EXPERIENCE WERE NOT LOCATED. THE SEAT BELT WORN BY THE PLT DID NOT HAVE AN STC AND HAD SEPARATED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CONNECTING BUCKLE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,059 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 1984; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Viking MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.