20031203032259A

(-23) On December 3, 2003 at 2130 pacific standard time, a Goodyear airship GZ-20-A, N10A, operated by pilot, tom whiddon, was informed on approach to landing that a temperature inversion of 10 degrees existed. The winds were light and ground fog was forming on the fiel. The pilot then informed the ground crew that the airship was very light and the ground crew set up for a light landing procedure. The first two landing attempts were aborted and on the third approach the airship was in a good position to land. The ground crew was able to grab the nose lines and stop the airship's forward motion. At this time the pilot used a combination of power, reverse power and elevator control to lower the airship toward the ground so that the ground crew could add ballast to the airship. Several attempts at the "light landing" procedure were made without success; each one forcing the ground crew closer toward the perimeter fence due to the application of power. The airship was only 40 feet from the fence when the chief pilot called for a go around. The pilot was unable to raise the nose and the airship hit the fence on the northeast corner of the field. The cameraman received a minor injury tohis knee.