Cameron HAB-N90 accident near Niagara Falls, New York, August 27, 1993
On August 27, 1993 at about 11:33 am local time, a Cameron HAB-N90 (balloon), registered N1192W, was involved in an accident near Niagara Falls, New York. It was a personal 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 inadequate bracing of the passenger for landing which resulted in a fall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1993 · about 11:33 am local time
- Place
- Niagara Falls, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron HAB-N90
- Registration
- N1192W · registry record · serial 5871
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOON PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A NORMAL LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT STATED: 'I ADVISED THE [PASSENGERS] TO BRACE THEMSELVES USING THE HANDLES...THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN, SLID UP A SMALL KNOLL...THE BASKET SLID A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE COMING TO A FINAL STOP. I CHECKED MY [PASSENGERS] AND [ONE PASSENGER] HAD BROKEN HER RIGHT LEG.'
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: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 192 hours in all; 35 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 192 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1993; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 11:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.