American Blimp Corp. A-60 incident near Valdosta, Georgia, October 21, 2002
On October 21, 2002 at about 9:45 pm local time, a American Blimp Corp. A-60 (airship), registered N660VL, suffered minor damage in an incident near Valdosta, Georgia (Valdosta Regional airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of airship control during tie down, due to gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2002 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Valdosta, Georgia · Valdosta Regional · map
- Type
- Incident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Blimp Corp. A-60
- Registration
- N660VL · no longer on the register · serial 006
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he and his crew member were preparing to secure the blimp after landing. The crew member exited the blimp and attempted to tie it down. The winds were gusting, and the crew member needed extra assistance in securing the blimp. As onlookers came to aid the crew members, a gust of wind blew the blimp into nearby trees.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: airship
- Flight time: 1,280 hours in all; 596 in this make and model; 203 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 852 as pilot in command; 37 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 23, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,394 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Limbach L2000-EC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VLD Valdosta GA at 1:00 pm
- Destination: TMA Tifton GA
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from VLD, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.