Fairchild 24W-46 accident near Callahan, Florida, July 24, 1995
On July 24, 1995 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Fairchild 24W-46, registered N81222, was substantially damaged in an accident near Callahan, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE MAGNETOS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1995 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Callahan, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild 24W-46 · all 24W-46s on the register
- Registration
- N81222 · registry record · serial W46123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH DURING CRUISE. HE CHECKED THE MAGNETOS, AND FOUND THAT THE LEFT MAGNETO HAD FAILED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE MORE POWER, AND THE OTHER MAGNETO BEGAN TO FAIL. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE WING HIT A TREE.
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: 796 hours in all; 757 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 738 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,081 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 5, 1995; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,562 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner 165-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MGR Moultrie GA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: SGJ St Augustine FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from CRG, 25 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.