Callair A-9 accident near Hamilton, Missouri, May 7, 1989
On May 7, 1989 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Callair A-9, registered N3581G, was destroyed in an accident near Hamilton, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND PREVENT THE AIRPLANE FROM DESCENDING WHILE IN A TURN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1989 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Callair A-9 · all A-9s on the register
- Registration
- N3581G · no longer on the register · serial 1244
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS PRACTICING AGRICULTURAL SPRAY RUNS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AFTER MAKING A STEEP RIGHT TURN TO ALIGN WITH THE FIELD, THE ACFT DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.A POST-CRASH FIRE ENSUED. METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE RUDDER CABLE REVEALED THAT ALL WIRES ON FOUR OF THE SEVEN CABLE STRANDS WERE WORN THROUGH. THE PLT WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE HAD LESS THAN 100 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE FAILED TO REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES WHICH WOULD HAVE SUGGESTED A FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2N5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 6K1 Marceline MO
- Destination: 6K1 Marceline MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from MCI, 42 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.