Cameron V-77 accident near New Middletown, Ohio, August 7, 1991
On August 7, 1991 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cameron V-77 (balloon), registered N6044U, suffered minor damage in an accident near New Middletown, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE UNFAVORABLE WIND (SHIFT) ENCOUNTERED BY THE BALLOON DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 1991 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Middletown, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron V-77
- Registration
- N6044U · no longer on the register · serial 5495
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A HOT AIR BALLOON WITH TWO PILOTS AND ONE PASSENGER ONBOARD COLLIDED WITH THE ROOF OF A BARN WHILE ON INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE WIND AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF WAS FROM THE NORTH AT 7 KNOTS; HOWEVER, JUST AFTER LIFTOFF IT SHIFTED TO THE NORTHEAST AT APPROXIMATELY 15 KNOTS. THE WIND SHIFT CAUSED THE BALLOON TO DRIFT INTO THE BARN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 675 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 491 as pilot in command; 205 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 56 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 1991; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,540 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.