Callair A9-B accident near Fisher, Arkansas, March 13, 1989
On March 13, 1989 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Callair A9-B, registered N7701V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fisher, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) 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
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE MAGNETO RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 1989 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fisher, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Callair A9-B · all A9-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7701V · no longer on the register · serial 1452
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PERFORMING AN AERIAL APPLICATION LOW PASS OVER HIS FAMILY'S FARM FEILD, THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PVT PILOT LOST ENGINE POWER AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LDG. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE RIGHT ENGINE MAGNETO HAD FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT WAS NOT QUALIFIED FOR 14 CFR 137 OPS.
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: 226 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 195 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-B1C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Fisher AR at 11:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from JBR, 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.