Cameron AX-8 accident near Schodack, New York, July 22, 1990
On July 22, 1990 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cameron AX-8 (balloon), registered N1994V, was involved in an accident near Schodack, New York. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INFLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH UNFORECAST HIGH WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1990 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Schodack, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron AX-8
- Registration
- N1994V · no longer on the register · serial 5308
- 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 RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM FLIGHT SERVICE AND IN ADDITION, A PIBAL WAS LAUNCHED TO CHECK THE WINDS. AFTER THE HOT AIR BALLOON DEPARTED WITH A PILOT AND 4 PASSENGERS, THE WINDS INCREASED AND THE FLIGHT WAS CUT SHORT. THE PASSENGERS WERE BRIEFED ON THE LANDING INCLUDING THE IMPORTANCE OF HANGING ONTO THE BASKET UNTIL IT STOPS. A HARD LANDING WAS MADE AND THE BASKET DRAGGED OVER 100 FT PRIOR TO STOPPING. TWO ELDERLY PASSENGERS (70+) WERE UNABLE TO HANG ONTO THE BASKET AND ALTHOUGH THEY STAYED IN THE BASKET, ONE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES (CRACKED RIBS) AND THE OTHER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.
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: 613 hours in all; 216 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 544 as pilot in command; 46 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 232 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1990; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kinderbook NY at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 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.