Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9A accident near Pleasant Dale, Nebraska, July 12, 1986
On July 12, 1986 at about 12:29 pm local time, a Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9A, registered N8413V, was destroyed in an accident near Pleasant Dale, Nebraska. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- July 12, 1986 · about 12:29 pm local time
- Place
- Pleasant Dale, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9A CALLAIR A-
- Registration
- N8413V · no longer on the register · serial 1613
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS REPORTED THE ACFT PULLED UP WITH ONE WING HIGH AND WENT PRACTICALLY INVERTED BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE ACFT WAS ENGAGED IN AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE COMPANY OWNER STATED THE ACFT WOULD HAVE BEEN AT AN ALT OF 150 TO 200 FT AGL DURING THE MANEUVER. HE CONTINUED TO STATE THE ACFT HAD A TENDENCY TO NOSE DOWN IN 'KNIFE EDGE' TURNS AND COULD NOT BE RECOVERED FROM AN ALT OF 150 TO 200 FTAGL.
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: 1,080 hours in all; 689 in this make and model; 204 in the last 90 days; 160 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,657 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 1986; 256 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Milford NE at 12:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.