Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9 N7736V

Summary

On 1 June 1998 at about 00:15 local time, a Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9 registered N7736V was involved in an accident near Ocean Springs, Mississippi, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 June 1998 at 00:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Ocean Springs, Mississippi, United States

Nearest airport

Ocean Springs (5R2)

Coordinates

30.4009, -88.7999

Aircraft

Aero Commander CALLAIR A-9

Registration

N7736V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA98FA172

1 person died.

an in-flight collision with a nylon rope (wire), resulting in a loss of engine power, an inadvertent stall, and subsequent impact with the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to witnesses, the flight had been conducted for the pilot to practice banner towing pickup. Poles about 20 feet in height, with a yellow nylon rope were stretched perpendicular to the airplane's flight path. The flight was seen making a pass over the pickup point and then return. The flight approached the pickup point from the north to the south and parallel to runway 17. The airplane was seen approaching the pickup site at an altitude of about 50 feet above the ground. About 100 feet north of the rope the airplane descended to an altitude of about 20 feet above the ground, and was seen striking the rope with the propeller. The rope wrapped around the propeller, shedding pieces of rope. Witnesses described the sound the rope made as being similar to 'a large weed whacker.' The airplane continued in a southerly direction and climbed to about 100 to 150 feet above the ground. The witnesses saw the airplane turn left (east), and then turn 'sharply' to the north. The airplane was last seen descending right wing and nose low into the tress. Several witnesses said that after the airplane struck the rope the engine rpm decreased, but the engine continued to run. Seventeen feet of yellow nylon rope was found wrapped around the propeller and engine flange.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.