Callair A2A accident near Grants, New Mexico, May 6, 1997
On May 6, 1997 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Callair A2A, registered N2915V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grants, New Mexico (Grants-Milan Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Inadvertent stall. Factors were the ground depression, the high density altitude, and a lack of recent experience in the make and model of aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1997 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Grants, New Mexico · Grants-Milan Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Callair A2A · all A2As on the register
- Registration
- N2915V · registry record · serial 131
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff initial climb, the pilot 'felt a loss of lift during the climb toward rising terrain and the airplane stalled as he pulled the nose up.' The airplane descended uncontrolled into a terrain depression (30 feet across and 50 feet deep) located approximately 1/2 mile beyond the end of the runway. With an airport elevation of 6,521 feet and a temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit, the density altitude was calculated at 8,200 feet. The pilot reported 22 hours total time in the make and model of airplane with no flight time in the previous 90 days in this airplane.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 818 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1997; 20 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GNT at 4:30 pm
- Destination: GUP Gallup NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,300 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 355° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.