Eagle Aircraft Co. C-7 accident near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, April 2, 1987
On April 2, 1987 at about 12:10 pm local time, a Eagle Aircraft Co. C-7 (balloon), registered N7321R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. 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 2, 1987 · about 12:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ft. Lauderdale, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eagle Aircraft Co. C-7
- Registration
- N7321R · no longer on the register · serial E8
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOON STRUCK POWERLINES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE A SUITABLE LDG SITE. THE PLT STATED THAT A GUST OF WIND BLEW THE BALLOON INTO THE WIRES & HE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB TO AVOID THE WIRES PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTH AT ABOUT 8 KTS & AT 6000 FT OUT OF THE SOUTH AT 5 KTS. THE BALLOON HAD BEEN TRAVELING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT & WAS DRIFTING INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE ACFT FLT MANUAL REQUIRES THAT PROTECTIVE HEAD GEAR BE WORN BY ALL OCCUPANTS DURING TAKE OFF & LDG. NONE WAS WEARING THE HEAD GEAR & NONE WAS FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE. AT LEAST ONE PAX SUSTAINED BURNS TO THE TOP OF THE HEAD.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 689 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 448 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 228 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 1986; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 am from FLL, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.