Callair B1A accident near Nebraska City, Nebraska, October 9, 1996
On October 9, 1996 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Callair B1A, registered N6203X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nebraska City, Nebraska. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a supercharger bearing failure. A factor was the excessive sink rate during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1996 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nebraska City, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Callair B1A
- Registration
- N6203X · no longer on the register · serial 10004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he was cruising at 3,300 feet mean sea level. All gauges were 'normal.' He heard a 'loud back fire' and the engine lost power. He pushed the throttle, mixture and propeller control full forward. The engine continued to run at 'idle speed.' During the subsequent forced landing, he landed with 'low airspeed and high sink rate.' The landing gear collapsed and the engine was bent downward. Examination of the engine revealed several spark plugs and the top of the pistons were oil covered. Several spark plugs 'appeared to have been running rich.' There was 'a lot of oil in the plenum chamber' and the supercharger blades had 'excessive rub on the rear face.'
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 940 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command; 650 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 7, 1996; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,450 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YKN Yankton SD at 6:50 pm
- Destination: SDA Shenandoah IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.