Adams A55S accident near Collierville, Tennessee, June 29, 1988
On June 29, 1988 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Adams A55S (balloon), registered N9807N, was involved in an accident near Collierville, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1988 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Collierville, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Adams A55S
- Registration
- N9807N · no longer on the register · serial 174
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A MULTIPLE BALLOON FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED TO OBTAIN PUBLICITY FOR THE LOCAL BALLOON CLUB. TELEVISION EXPOSURE OF BALLOON FLIGHTS HAD BEEN SHOT AND THE BALLOONS WERE IN THE PROCESS OF LANDING. THE REPORTER/PASSENGER IN THE ACCIDENT BALLOON HAD BEEN THROUGH ONE LANDING WHICH THE PILOT CHARACTERIZED AS TEXT BOOK. DURING THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN, THE BASKET CONTACTED A SMALL RIDGE OF DIRT AT THE LANDING SITE AND THE BASKET LAID OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PASSENGER FLIPPED OUT AND SUFFERED A HAIRLINE FRACTURE OF A VERTABRE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE BALLOON NOR INJURY TO THE PRIVATE PILOT. THE WIND WAS LIGHT.
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: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 48 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 46 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1987; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGP Marshall CO MS at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.