Air Fly Balonismo E Inflaveis AF-SS-94 accident near Walbridge, Ohio, August 22, 2025
On August 22, 2025 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 2025 Air Fly Balonismo E Inflaveis AF-SS-94 (balloon), registered N591KY, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Walbridge, Ohio (Toledo Exec airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The balloon pilot’s failure to see and avoid powerlines during an off-field airport landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2025 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Walbridge, Ohio · Toledo Exec · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Fly Balonismo E Inflaveis AF-SS-94, built 2025
- Registration
- N591KY · registry record · serial LP2025-03
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the hot air balloon planned for a local sightseeing flight that departed and returned to the same airport. During the flight, the pilot realized that the balloon would not be able to return to the airport as planned, so he selected a field for an off-airport landing. During the final portion of the landing approach, one of the passengers alerted the pilot to the presence of a previously unseen powerline. Due to the balloon’s close proximity to the ground and the powerline, the pilot elected to vent the envelope and allow it to drape over the power line rather than risk the parts of the balloon between the envelope and the basket contacting the powerline. After touchdown, the envelope and the upper portion of one (steel) riser cable contacted two wires. The pilot heard a pop and saw an arc, which ultimately resulted in substantial damage to the riser cable, a quick link connector, and the envelope. The pilot and passengers were not injured. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 9,500 as pilot in command; 750 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 13, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 1, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,984 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: TDZ Toledo OH at 11:16 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from TOL, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTOL 222352Z 31003KT 10SM SCT048 26/15 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP154 T02560150 10278 20250 56008 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 20, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.