Cameron V-77 accident near Littleton, Colorado, July 1, 1994
On July 1, 1994 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Cameron V-77 (balloon), registered N748CB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Littleton, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE BALLOON'S HEATER SYSTEM (PILOT LIGHT) FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1994 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Littleton, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron V-77
- Registration
- N748CB · registry record · serial 635
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER LIFTING OFF, THE PILOT LIGHT ON THE BALLOON'S PROPANE BURNER EXTINGUISHED FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AND ATTEMPTS TO RELIGHT IT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. BECAUSE THE BALLOON WAS DESCENDING NEAR POWERLINES, THE PILOT 'VENTED' IN ORDER TO RAPIDLY LOSE ALTITUDE. THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN ON A HIGHWAY, BOUNCED BACK UP, AND THE ENVELOPE CONTACTED POWERLINES, BURNING SEVERAL ENVELOPE PANELS.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 18 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 1994; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:58 pm from APA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.