Cameron N105 accident near Littleton, Colorado, February 3, 1990
On February 3, 1990 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cameron N105 (balloon), registered N29675, was substantially damaged in an accident near Littleton, Colorado. 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
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 1990 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Littleton, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron N105
- Registration
- N29675 · registry record · serial 5064
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APPROACH TO LANDING, THE BALLOON PILOT ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND HAD GROWN STRONGER THAN ANTICIPATED. HE SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO SPILL AIR TO INCREASE THE RATE OF DESCENT BY USE OF THE RED LINE, BUT IT SLIPPED THROUGH HIS GLOVED HAND. HE SAID THE BALLOON WAS CARRIED 300 FEET FARTHER THAN THE PLANNED TOUCHDOWN POINT, WHERE THE ENVELOPE DRAPED OVER POWER LINES. HE SAID THE WIRE CONTACT TORE A VERTICAL RIP SEVERAL FEET LONG IN THE ENVELOPE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE GONDOLA WITHOUT INJURY.
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: student
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 51 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 3:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.