Cameron Balloons Shuttle 90 accident near Centralia, Illinois, August 18, 2001
On August 18, 2001, a Cameron Balloons Shuttle 90, registered N8094S, was destroyed in an accident near Centralia, Illinois (Centralia Muni airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The balloon envelope fire. A contributing factor was the flammability of the envelope.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 2001
- Place
- Centralia, Illinois · Centralia Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons Shuttle 90
- Registration
- N8094S · no longer on the register · serial 4822
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The balloon was destroyed during an approach to a landing. During an approach to landing, the pilot looked up and noticed that the balloon's pressure cone and mouth were on fire and sustaining a flame. Samples of fabric from the accident balloon underwent burn testing and in each test the sample was completely consumed by fire. Federal Aviation Administration certification regulations do not prescribe flammability requirements for fabric used in manned balloons.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 720 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 720 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 30, 2000
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 2001; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Centralia IL at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 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.