Callair A-3 accident near Williams, Arizona, September 23, 1991
On September 23, 1991 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Callair A-3, registered N2903V, was destroyed in an accident near Williams, Arizona (Williams Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A STRONG AND GUSTY CROSS-WIND WHICH SUDDENLY DEVELOPED IN THE AREA AND HIS SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND INABILITY TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1991 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Williams, Arizona · Williams Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Callair A-3 · all A-3s on the register
- Registration
- N2903V · registry record · serial 119
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO TAKING OFF HE HAD OBSERVED THAT THE WIND SOCK WAS 'LIMP'. THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 18 AND BEGAN CLIMBING. AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 10 TO 20 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE PILOT SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST FROM 090 DEGREES AT 35 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY, CONTACTED THE GROUND, IMPACTED A DITCH AND COLLIDED WITH BOULDERS. WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THAT, AT THE TIME OF THE MISHAP, A LIGHT RAIN WAS FALLING, A THUNDERSTORM WAS NEARBY, AND GUSTY WINDS HAD SUDDENLY DEVELOPED IN THE AREA.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: GCN Grand Canyon AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 35 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX91LA406.