Fantasy Sky Promotions AX-7 accident near Binghamton, New York, August 2, 1990
On August 2, 1990, a Fantasy Sky Promotions AX-7 (balloon), registered N666RT, was involved in an accident near Binghamton, New York. 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE BALLOON DURING TOUCHDOWN RESULTING IN THE BASKET OF THE BALLOON TIPPING. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SLOPE OF THE TERRAIN AND THE WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1990
- Place
- Binghamton, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fantasy Sky Promotions AX-7
- Registration
- N666RT · no longer on the register · serial 039
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS A SUSQUENANGO BALLOON CLUB LANDOWNERS APPRECIATION EVENT AND ORIGINATED AT OTSININGO PARK IN BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK. THE FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL THE LANADING. AFTER ONE TOUCH-AND- GO LANDING TO SHOW THE PASSENGER THE EFFECTS OF THE LANDING PROCESS. THE NEXT FIELD WAS SELECTED TO LAND IN. THE LANDING SITE WAS SLIGHTLY UP HILL IN A 40 ACRE FIELD OF CUT GREEN GRASS. THE WIND WAS 5-7 MILES PER HOUR. DURING THE LANDING, THE BASKET OF THE BALLOON TIPPED AND THE PASSENGER FELL OUT OF THE BASKET TO THE GROUND. THE PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 10,980 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 10,003 as pilot in command; 606 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- 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 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25000000 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.