Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX accident near Stilwell, Kansas, September 22, 1996
On September 22, 1996, a Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX, registered N2006W, was involved in an accident near Stilwell, Kansas. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 6 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's not maintaining adequate clearance from a tree, and his allowing an abrupt touchdown. Factors relating to the accident were: dusk and the proximity of tree(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 1996
- Place
- Stilwell, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX · all MAGNUM IXs on the register
- Registration
- N2006W · no longer on the register · serial 193
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
With darkness approaching and a lack of suitable landing sites, the pilot attempted to set the balloon down in a small clear area. During the approach, the balloon brushed the top of a tree. Beyond the tree, the pilot allowed an abrupt landing in a field. One passenger fell on another resulting in serious injuries being inflicted.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 25,005 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 31, 1995; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Bucyrus KS at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KOJ, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 5 |
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.