Avian MAGNUM IX accident near Donald, Oregon, August 3, 1997
On August 3, 1997 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Avian MAGNUM IX (balloon), registered N20146, was substantially damaged in an accident near Donald, Oregon. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 7 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree that was located on the edge of the field in which he was attempting to land.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1997 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Donald, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 7 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avian MAGNUM IX
- Registration
- N20146 · no longer on the register · serial 184
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While attempting to land on the edge of an open field under near-calm conditions, the pilot allowed the balloon to settle into the top of a coniferous tree. As the balloon settled into the tree, the gondola tipped to the side and the Nomex panel and horizontal load tape around the mouth of the envelope became snagged in the tree. As the gondola tipped, the seams on approximately half of the vertical load tapes were exposed to burner heat hot enough to cause failure of the seam thread, and the remainder of the vertical load tape seams failed as the balloon and the gondola pulled against the snagged horizontal load tape. When the last vertical load tape failed, the gondola separated from the envelope. After separating from the envelope, the gondola fell through the tree and impacted the ground.
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: balloon
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 198 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 12, 1996; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Aurora OR at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 6 |
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.