What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Approaching mooring mast 30KT wind gust blew blimp into trees. Tore bag landed hard collapsed right landing gear. (.4) the pilot expected the winds to be from the south at 12 to 17 knots. While approaching the ground based mast for mooring from the north, with the groundcrew in control of the blimp, a gust of wind from the right, estimated to be at about 30 knots, acted on the blimp blowing it toward trees to the east. The pilot attempted to regain control and avoid the trees by adding full engine power. This was unsuccessful and the blimp contacted the trees and the air bag was torn open. The gondola descended and landed hard causing the right landing gear to collapse. (-23) see narrative #MIA98LA134
As the FAA filed it
APPROACHING MOORING MAST 30KT WIND GUST BLEW BLIMP INTO TREES. TORE BAG LANDED HARD COLLAPSED RIGHT LANDING GEAR. (.4) THE PILOT EXPECTED THE WINDS TO BE FROM THE SOUTH AT 12 TO 17 KNOTS. WHILE APPROACHING THE GROUND BASED MAST FOR MOORING FROM THE NORTH, WITH THE GROUNDCREW IN CONTROL OF THE BLIMP, A GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT, ESTIMATED TO BE AT ABOUT 30 KNOTS, ACTED ON THE BLIMP BLOWING IT TOWARD TREES TO THE EAST. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL AND AVOID THE TREES BY ADDING FULL ENGINE POWER. THIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE BLIMP CONTACTED THE TREES AND THE AIR BAG WAS TORN OPEN. THE GONDOLA DESCENDED AND LANDED HARD CAUSING THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE. (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #MIA98LA134
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.