NTSB MIA95LA189 — 1995-07-24 · CALLAHAN, Florida, United States

Current FAA registration · N81222

Make / Model: FAIRCHILD 24W-46
Year of manufacture: 1946 · 49 years old at event
Engine: WARNER SS165 SERIES (175 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19571108
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AB1383

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N81222 Fairchild 24W-46 None

Probable cause & findings

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE MAGNETOS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Factual narrative

On July 24, 1995, about 1255 eastern daylight time, N81222, a Fairchild 24W-46, registered to the pilot, crashed in Callahan, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight originated from Moultrie, Georgia, about 1200 the same day. The pilot stated the engine began to run rough and he was able to determine one magneto was inoperative. Shortly thereafter the engine began to lose more power. He then initiated a precautionary landing to a road, due to loss of engine power. During the landing the wing struck a tree and damaged the wing and lift struts. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH DURING CRUISE. HE CHECKED THE MAGNETOS, AND FOUND THAT THE LEFT MAGNETO HAD FAILED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE MORE POWER, AND THE OTHER MAGNETO BEGAN TO FAIL. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE WING HIT A TREE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1995_MIA95LA189.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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