Cameron Balloons US Z-90 accident near Cedar Springs, Michigan, September 9, 2025
On September 9, 2025 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 2018 Cameron Balloons US Z-90, registered N418RX, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Cedar Springs, Michigan. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger’s loss of balance during landing that resulted in a serious injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2025 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Springs, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons US Z-90, built 2018 · all Z-90s on the register
- Registration
- N418RX · registry record · serial 6845
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the passengers were given a safety briefing prior to the balloon flight, in which they were informed to face forward and to secure themselves prior to landing. During landing, one of the passengers lost her balance and fell onto another passenger and sustained a serious injury to her ankle. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Physical › (general) › (general) › Other
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,576 hours in all; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,576 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 25, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 256.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Michigan Hot Air Adventures
The flight
- Departed from: Rockford MI at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 11.5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:15 pm from K8D4, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 12, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.