Avian Balloon AX8 accident near Canton, Ohio, September 29, 1984
On September 29, 1984 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Avian Balloon AX8, registered N7003Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Canton, Ohio (Akron-Canton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- September 29, 1984 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Canton, Ohio · Akron-Canton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avian Balloon AX8
- Registration
- N7003Q · registry record · serial 123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT AND PASSENGER (STUDENT BALLOON PILOT) ELECTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD RATHER THAN OVERFLY DENSELY POPULATED AREA AND POWER LINES, ON TOUCHDOWN, WIND LIFTED BALLOON SLIGHTLY AND CAUSED DRIFT. AS STUDENT PLT WAS OPERATING ENVELOPE VENT, SHE FELL OUT OF THE BASKET.LOSS OF LOAD CAUSED BALLOON TO RISE FASTER THAN PLT COULD VENT FOR RE-LANDING. BALLOON DRIFTED INTO POWER LINES.
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: 64 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 42 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 71 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 830 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAK Canton OH at 9:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from CAK, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.