Avian MAGNUM 9 accident near Pasco, Washington, July 22, 1994
On July 22, 1994 at about 3:00 am local time, a Avian MAGNUM 9 (balloon), registered N50257, was involved in an accident near Pasco, Washington. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT THAT REDUCED THE PASSENGER'S ABILITY TO HOLD ON TO THE BASKET DURING THE HARD LANDING. FACTORS INCLUDE AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT AT TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1994 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Pasco, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avian MAGNUM 9
- Registration
- N50257 · no longer on the register · serial 173
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN ATTEMPTED LANDING IN WINDS OF ABOUT 7 KNOTS, THE BALLOON HIT HARD, AND ONE OF THE PASSENGERS FELL OUT OF THE BASKET, BECAME ENTANGLED IN A LINE, AND WAS DRAGGED ALONG THE GROUND. ALTHOUGH THE PASSENGER HAD BEEN BRIEFED TO HOLD ON DURING THE LANDING, AN EXISTING PROBLEM WITH THE TENDONS IN HIS THUMBS MADE IT HARD FOR HIM TO MAINTAIN A GRIP ON THE BASKET DURING THE TOUCHDOWN.
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: 282 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 251 as pilot in command; 18 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kennewick WA at 2:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.