# NTSB FTW97LA232: Aero Commander Callair A-9B, N7684V, El Indio, TX, June 23, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 1997, 08:05 local (13:05 UTC) - Place: El Indio, TX - Coordinates: 28.509679, -100.309486 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5097&lon=-100.3095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 26, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20250 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA232 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20250/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA232 ## 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, which resulted in a forced landing and subseqent nose-over. Factors relating to the accident were: false fuel quantity indication, and the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was working on a boll weevil eradication contract and was in the habit of servicing the airplane (with fuel, oil, and applicant) at the end of each day. He reported that the day before the accident, he was distracted from his servicing process by the arrival of a customer and the news of a family problem. The pilot reported that the next morning, while preflighting the airplane, 'I checked the sumps but did not remove the fuel caps to visually check the fuel [quantity].' He departed for the first flight of the day with the fuel selector positioned to a nonserviced tank; its fuel quantity gage indicated that it was 'full.' While flying the first application swath, the engine lost power. The pilot 'saw the fuel pressure light come on and he turned on the boost pump, but he delayed switching fuel tanks because he thought he had full tanks on both sides and there was some other problem.' The pilot performed a forced landing to a muddy cotton field, and the airplane came to rest inverted. ## Factual narrative On June 23,1997, approximately 0805 central daylight time, a Callair A-9B agricultural airplane, N7684V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total power loss near El Indio, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned/operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight which had originated from a private airstrip approximately 5 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the flight. According to the pilot, he was working on a boll weevil eradication contract. He stated that he had been servicing the airplane (with fuel, oil, and applicant) at the end of each day. He reported that the day before the accident he was distracted from his servicing process by the arrival of a customer and the news of a family problem. The pilot reported that the next morning, while doing the preflight of the airplane, "I checked the sumps but did not remove the fuel caps to visually check the fuel [quantity]." The pilot reported that he departed for the first flight of the day with the fuel selector on the right fuel tank; this was the fuel tank which was not serviced the day before. The pilot further reported that the right fuel gage indicated "full." While making his first application swath, the engine "quit." The pilot "saw the fuel pressure light come on and he turned on the boost pump"; he "delayed switching fuel tanks because he thought he had full tanks on both sides and that there was some other problem." The pilot performed a forced landing to a cotton field. He stated that "I got down as smooth and slow as I could but the wheels got down into the mud and it flipped over." The airplane came to rest tail first in the inverted position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7684V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7684V-2018-01-08), registration cancelled 2018-01-08, S/N 1432, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9B (CALLAIR A-) - Registry model: [Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-callair-a-9b) (registry code 0144206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1432 - Airframe hours: 2720 - Engines: Jacobs R-755-SM 360 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Michael J. Dickenson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 1996, 75 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 10,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MFE, 200 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19970623015439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970623015439A), Jun 23, 1997: Airpts A9B, El Indio, TX, Substantial damage. 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… ## Other investigations on N7684V (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 LAX79DUG20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DUG20), Mar 1, 1979: Aero Comdr A-9B (N7684V), Hemet, CA, destroyed 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.