Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

June 23, 1997 · Aero Commander Callair A-9B Callair A · N7684V

El Indio, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 23, 1997
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
El Indio, TX
Aircraft
Aero Commander Callair A-9B Callair A
Tail Number
N7684V
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW97LA232

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.

NTSB 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.

Full 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:05 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAero Commander Callair A-9B Callair A
Tail NumberN7684V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsJacobs · R-755-SM · Reciprocating · 360
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 51 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time12:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data