Intermountain Mfg. (Imco) CALLAIR A-9B accident near El Paso, Texas, February 26, 1989
On February 26, 1989 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Intermountain Mfg. (Imco) CALLAIR A-9B, registered N375MC, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Paso, Texas (West Texas airport). It was an other work-use 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
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SELECT THE FULLEST TANKS AND, FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 1989 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · West Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Intermountain Mfg. (Imco) CALLAIR A-9B CALLAIR A-
- Registration
- N375MC · registry record · serial 1309
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT EXPERIENCED AN ENG FAILURE DURING A LOW PASS OVER THE AIRPORT TO DROP A GLIDER TOW ROPE. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND AFTER THE PLT FAILED TO PROPERLY SET UP THE ACFT FOR A FORCED LANDING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED ABOUT 5 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RT TANK AND ZERO IN THE LEFT. THE RIGHT TANK WAS SELECTED WHEN THE ACFT WAS INSPECTED. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN EITHER THE FLOW DIVIDER OR THE LINES.
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, foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,934 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,755 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,069 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1988; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-G1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 11 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 250 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Observation at 11:52 pm from ELP, 8 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.