National Balloon 752 accident near Ankeny, Iowa, October 21, 1987
On October 21, 1987 at about 10:50 pm local time, a National Balloon 752, registered N72711, was involved in an accident near Ankeny, Iowa. It was a business flight 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 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 21, 1987 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ankeny, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- National Balloon 752
- Registration
- N72711 · no longer on the register · serial 011
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PROMOTIONAL BALLOON FLT, THE PLT STATED THAT ON AN APPROACH TO LND THE BASKET DRIFTED INTO A LARGE HAY BALE. THE BASKET TIPPED AND THE PLTS ANKLE WAS BROKEN WHEN CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BASKET AND A PROPANE TANK.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 240 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 180 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 17, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None 2 (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.