Head Balloons, Inc. AX8-105 accident near Jacksonville, Florida, July 20, 1993
On July 20, 1993 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Head Balloons, Inc. AX8-105, registered N45124, was involved in an accident near Jacksonville, Florida. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER PROCEDURES 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
- July 20, 1993 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Head Balloons, Inc. AX8-105
- Registration
- N45124 · registry record · serial 182
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT INITIATED A DESCENT TO LAND IN A FIELD BUT OBSERVED A FENCE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT & ADDED BURNER HEAT TO CLEAR THE FENCE. WHILE THE BALLOON WAS ABOUT 15-20 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE PILOT THEN ADVISED ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WHO WAS NOT A PILOT, TO PULL A RED LANYARD BUT DID NOT ADVISE HIM OF THE EFFECT OF PULLING IT. THE PASSENGER COMPLIED AND THE BALLOON LANDED HARD RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO A PASSENGER.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 657 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 78 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 27, 1992; 26 hours since
- 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 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:45 pm from NIP, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.