Callair A-9 accident near Barrett, Minnesota, June 22, 1990
On June 22, 1990 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Callair A-9, registered N9621Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Barrett, Minnesota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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
INADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK AND A DELAYED PULL-UP BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 1990 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Barrett, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Callair A-9 · all A-9s on the register
- Registration
- N9621Z · no longer on the register · serial 1024
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER, THE COMMERCIAL PLT FAILED TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH POWER WIRES AND A UTILITY POLE, DURING A PULL UP AFTER A SWATH RUN. THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE POLE, SEPARATING A PORTION OF THE WING, RESULTING IN AN UNCONTROLLED ROLL. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN AND CONTINUED TO ROLL AND CARTWHEEL, COMING TO A STOP IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION.
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: 376 hours in all; 151 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 89 in the last 30 days; 316 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: Y63 Elbow Lake MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:46 pm from AXN, 15 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.