Goodyear Aerospace GZ-20-A accident near Bedford, Massachusetts, October 2, 1998
On October 2, 1998 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Goodyear Aerospace GZ-20-A (airship), registered N3A, was involved in an accident near Bedford, Massachusetts (Laurence G. Hanscom Field). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the pull-in-line. A factor in the accident was the gusting winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1998 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bedford, Massachusetts · Laurence G. Hanscom Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Goodyear Aerospace GZ-20-A
- Registration
- N3A · registry record · serial 4116
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After arriving at the airport, the pilot landed and waited for the ground crew to arrive and assemble the mooring mast. Once the mast was assembled, the ground crew took over and the pilot assisted with thrust to move the airship upwind to the mooring mast. The conditions at the time of the accident were challenging, but not uncommon for airship operations. The injured ground handler was moving from one recovery position to another trying to provide assistance where needed most. Once the pull-in-line was set, the injured ground handler went to assist. While using his 200 pound body to help pull the airship to the mooring mast the pull-in-line broke, and the ground handler fell from a standing position, injuring his back. The winds at the airport were reported to be from 280 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 24.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: airship
- Flight time: 8,700 hours in all; 7,500 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 8,700 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23,000 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 2, 1998; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TEB Teterboro NJ at 11:00 am
- Destination: BED Bedford MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from BED
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.