Aero Commander CALLAIR A 9B accident near Gardiner, Montana, June 2, 2014
On June 2, 2014 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1969 Aero Commander CALLAIR A 9B, registered N7292V, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Gardiner, Montana (Gardiner airport). 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 pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and his subsequent takeoff with the airplane over its allowable gross weight in high density altitude conditions, which degraded the airplane’s climb performance and led to a subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2014 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gardiner, Montana · Gardiner · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander CALLAIR A 9B B, built 1969 · all CALLAIR A 9Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7292V · no longer on the register · serial 1437
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was conducting an agricultural application flight. The pilot reported that, during departure, the airplane was unable to maintain a positive climb rate, so he decided to conduct a forced landing on a grass field. During the landing roll, the airplane's wing struck terrain, and the airplane subsequently came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident weight and balance calculations determined that, at the time of the accident, the airplane exceeded its maximum gross weight limitation. Further, the density altitude was calculated to be 5,661 ft mean sea level. It is likely that the combined effects of the airplane being over its gross weight and the high-density altitude degraded the airplane's climb performance.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of lift during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weight/balance calculations › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weight/balance calculations › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Capability exceeded
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 607.6 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 576.6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 11, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,606.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 4,597 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 29S Gardiner MT at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 29S Gardiner MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,200 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 3:30 pm from KWYS, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.