Avian Balloon SKYHAWK accident near Longmont, Colorado, April 24, 1982
On April 24, 1982 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Avian Balloon SKYHAWK, registered N72AV, was involved in an accident near Longmont, Colorado. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
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
- April 24, 1982 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Longmont, Colorado
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avian Balloon SKYHAWK · all SKYHAWKs on the register
- Registration
- N72AV · registry record · serial 72
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOKOFF IN THE BALLOON WITH THREE PASSENGERS ON A SIGHT-SEEING FLIGHT. THE WIND WAS FROM 200 DEGREES AT 5 GUSTING 7 KNOTS. A LARGE FIELD WAS SELECTED FOR LANDING. WHILE USING A HIGH WIND LANDING PROCEDURE, THE GONDOLA TIPPED OVER DURING TOUCHDOWN. ONE PASSENGER FELL OUT AND FRACTURED A VERTEBRA.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,798 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 119 in the last 90 days; 1,686 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 54 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Berthand CO
- Destination: Berthand CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 140°F (60°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.