Cameron N-90 accident near Centralia, Illinois, August 16, 1992
On August 16, 1992 at about 11:50 am local time, a Cameron N-90 (balloon), registered N75250, was involved in an accident near Centralia, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ABRUPT TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1992 · about 11:50 am local time
- Place
- Centralia, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron N-90
- Registration
- N75250 · registry record · serial 5786
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT OVER AN OPEN FIELD. A BALLOON AHEAD DESCENDED AND TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID POWER LINES. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND LANDED TO AVOID THE OTHER BALLOON AND THE POWER LINES. THE BASKET ROLLED OVER AFTER TOUCHDOWN, INJURING ONE OF THE PASSENGERS ABOARD.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1992
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: General Motors CORP., INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.