Callair A-9 accident near Beaver City, Nebraska, July 10, 1992
On July 10, 1992 at about 10:25 pm local time, a Callair A-9, registered N9627Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beaver City, Nebraska. 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 INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OVERHAUL OF THE LEFT MAGNETO, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAGNETO/IGNITION SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 1992 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Beaver City, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Callair A-9 · all A-9s on the register
- Registration
- N9627Z · no longer on the register · serial 1030
- 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 PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN AERIAL APPLICATION ACTIVITIES WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE STATED HE HAD JUST ENTERED A CLIMBING LEFT TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN WHEN THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD IN A TERRACED WHEAT FIELD, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A TERRACE. THE PILOT ESTIMATED HE WAS ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT MAGNETO FAILED DUE TO A JAMMED FLYWEIGHT ON THE IMPULSE COUPLING. THE CRANKSHAFT DRIVE GEAR THEN FAILED, AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,632 hours in all; 1,450 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 7,516 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,828 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 1991; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 37V Arapahoe NE at 9:45 pm
- Destination: 37V
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.