Avian Falcon II accident near Middletown, Ohio, July 24, 2004
On July 24, 2004 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Avian Falcon II (balloon), registered N15053, suffered minor damage in an accident near Middletown, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger's inadvertent fall from the basket, during landing. A factor in this accident was the windy conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2004 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Middletown, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avian Falcon II
- Registration
- N15053 · registry record · serial 108
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After about a 1 hour flight, the pilot elected to land the balloon in an open field. He noticed that the surface winds had increased to about 11 to 12 knots, and briefed the passenger prior to landing. The balloon touched down in the field, and began to drag along the ground. The basket tipped forward, and the passenger fell out of the basket. The balloon became airborne again, cleared a tree line, and touched down in an adjacent field. The balloon envelope came to rest draped over a power line. The passenger stated she was briefed by the pilot prior to landing; however, she was unable to hold on. Winds reported at an airport located about 16 miles northeast of the accident site, were from 050 degrees at 10 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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 155 hours in all; 155 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 136 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 2003; 7 hours since
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Middletown OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from MGY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.