Schaffer-Provencher UW accident near Stockbridge, Michigan, May 18, 1983
On May 18, 1983 at about 1:20 am local time, a Schaffer-Provencher UW (balloon), registered N37SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stockbridge, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were 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
- May 18, 1983 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Stockbridge, Michigan
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schaffer-Provencher UW
- Registration
- N37SP · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOON LANDED DOWNSLOPE AT ABOUT 7 KTS IN A RIP/DRAG LANDING WITHOUT GROUND ASSISTANCE. ONE OF THE TWO PASSENGERS WAS ON THE DOWNSLOPE SIDE OF THE BASKET FACING THE DIRECTION OF LANDING. SHE LOST HER GRIP ON THE TOP RAIL OF THE BASKETDURING TOUCHDOWN AND GOT HER ARM CAUGHT BETWEEN GROUND AND BASKET. HER ARM WAS BROKEN DURING THE 15 YARD DRAG. PILOT'S RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED BETTER BRIEFING OF PASSENGERS ON HAND HOLDS AND POSITIONING UPWIND AWAY FROM LANDING DIRECTION IN BASKET PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN.
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: balloon
- Flight time: 479 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 103 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1983; 2 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Chelsea MI
- Destination: NONE Stockbridge MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 167° at 7 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 17 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.