Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9B accident near Dell Rapids, South Dakota, May 20, 1986
On May 20, 1986 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9B, registered N7757V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dell Rapids, South Dakota (Weelborg 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
- May 20, 1986 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dell Rapids, South Dakota · Weelborg · 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-9B CALLAIR A- · all CALLAIR A-9Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7757V · no longer on the register · serial 1503
- 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 STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE LOST RUDDER EFFECTIVENESS AFTER ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 60 KTS. HE APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP, BUT THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY & STRUCK A FENCE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS REPORTED. APRX 14 MI SOUTH AT SIOUX FALLS, SD, THE 1839 CDT WIND WAS FROM 110 DEG AT 10 KTS. A BLOOD TEST SHOWED THE PLT HAD AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.14%.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1985; 112 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y06 at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:39 pm from FSD, 14 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.