Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX accident near Carefree, Arizona, October 3, 1987
On October 3, 1987 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX, registered N1600P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carefree, Arizona. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 6 people had minor injuries. 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
- October 3, 1987 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Carefree, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 6 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avian Balloon MAGNUM IX · all MAGNUM IXs on the register
- Registration
- N1600P · no longer on the register · serial 135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FIRST TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, A SMALL PORTION OF THE BALLOON ENVELOPE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED. THE SECOND TAKEOFF ATTEMPT WAS SUCCESSFUL. ONE PASSENGER ON THE BALLOON SAID THAT THE FLIGHT WAS VERY ERRATIC RANGING IN ALTITUDE FROM 10 FEET AGL TO 1000 FEET AGL. THE BALLOON ENVELOPE PARTIALLY COLLAPSED IN TURBULENT WEATHER AND WENT INTO AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE BALLOON BASKET COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND FOUR OF THE SEVEN OCCUPANTS FELL OUT. THE BALLOON SHOT INTO THE AIR, DESCENDED, AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AGAIN. THE PILOT COLLAPSED THE ENVELOPE AS THE BALLOON SKIDDED ACROSS THE GROUND. WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 090 DEGREES AT 09 KNOTS GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS.
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: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 566 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 522 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 38 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNK (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Carefree AZ at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from PHX, 30 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.