# Accident 19970623015439A: Airpts A9B, El Indio, TX, June 23, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 23, 1997, 08:05 local time
- Place: El Indio, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: TKEG
- Location: 28.5097° N, 100.3095° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5097&lon=-100.3095&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7684V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7684V-2018-01-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9B (registry code 0144206, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-callair-a-9b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRPTS A9B
- Reported engine: JACOBP R755SM
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA232) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970623015439A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FAILED TO CHECK FUEL ON PREFLIGHT RAN TANK DRY. FAILED TO SWITCH TANKS UNTIL TOO LATE . NOSED OVER LANDING IN MUD. (-23) ON JUNE 23, 1997 AT APPROXIMATELY 08:00 AM A AERO COMMANDER/CALLAIR MODEL A-9B, WITH A REGISTRATION NO. N7684 WHICH WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY A MR. MICHAEL J. DICKENSON, ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER LOSING ENGINE POWER AND CRASHED INTO A COTTON FIELD NEAR LOS INDIOS, TEXAS. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED UNDER A TITLE 14 CFR PART 137 OPERATION UNDER CERTIFICATED NO. TKEG4981. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE PILOT ONLY HAD MINOR ABRASIONS TO HIS HANDS. THE PILOT MR. MICHAEL J. DICKENSON CERTIFICATED NO. 1819554 HAS A COMMERCIAL RATING FOR AERIAL SPRAYING. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM APRIVATE STRIP APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT. AFTER THE SITE VISIT BY INSPECTORS FROM THE SAN ANTONIO FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE THE PILOT REVIEWED WHAT HAD TRANSPIRED PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT AND REALIZED THAT HE HAD FORGOTTEN TO FILL BOTH WING TANKS WITH FUEL PRIOR TO MAKING THIS FLIGHT AND HAD BEEN OPERATING OFF OF THE LOW TANK UNTIL THE ENGINE FAIL                                   ED DUE TO FUEL DEPLETION. OPERATIONS HAS ELECTED TO PERFORM A SECTION 609 RIDE AGAINST THE PILOT UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE FAA ACT OF 1958.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97LA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA232), Jun 23, 1997: Aero Commander Callair A-9B (N7684V), El Indio, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight, subsequent fuel starvation, and failure of the pilot to reposition the fuel selector to another tank (perform emergency procedure) after the loss of engine power,…

## Other reports on N7684V (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19790301003899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790301003899A), Mar 1, 1979: Airpts A9B (N7684V), Hemet, CA, Destroyed. Aircraft struck trees on hill enroute to ag operation. Down draft reported as a factor.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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