Callair A-3 accident near Burley, Idaho, June 24, 1990
On June 24, 1990 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Callair A-3, registered N2911V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burley, Idaho (Burley Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ENCOUNTER WITH METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS THAT EXCEEDED THE AIRCRAFT'S ABILITY TO CLIMB OR MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN WERE FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1990 · about 7:45 pm local time · cases in 1990
- Place
- Burley, Idaho · Burley Muni · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Callair A-3 · all A-3s on the register
- Registration
- N2911V · registry record · serial 127
- 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 HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT OR WINDSHEAR AT APPROXIMATELY 250 TO 300 FEET AGL, SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. HE SAID HE PUSHED THE NOSE OVER TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED, ANTICIPATING THAT HE WOULD FIND LIFT NEAR THE GROUND. HE SAID THE DOWNDRAFT TOOK HIM TO THE GROUND. DURING THE ENSUING HARD LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: 3,000 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-125-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BYI at 6:45 pm
- Destination: NONE Brush Prairie WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from BYI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2911V on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Callair A-3 8 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Callair 44 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental C-125-2 2 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Burley Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Idaho 1,535 since 1982 · 287 in the last ten years
- Idaho 4,201 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA90LA111.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.