# Accident 20031203032259A: Goodyr GZ20, Carson, CA, December 3, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 3, 2003, 21:30 local time
- Place: Carson, CA
- Airport: Goodyear Blimp Base Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8533° N, 118.2744° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8533&lon=-118.2744&mi=10
- Aircraft: N10A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N10A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Goodyear GZ-20A (registry code 3870220, https://openairdocs.org/model/goodyear-gz-20a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GOODYR GZ20
- Reported engine: CONT IO360DB
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031203032259A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX04LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA055), Dec 4, 2003: Goodyear GZ-20A (N10A), Gardena, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delayed go-around during final approach to land, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a fence. A factor associated with the accident is the pilot's failure to maintain adequate…

## Other reports on N10A (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19950527021879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950527021879I), May 27, 1995: Goodyr GZ20 (N10A), Carson, CA, Minor damage. During crew change on grond, airship hit by whirlwind. Ground crew overpowered. Drifted into golf green, hit cart.
- [Incident 19900930058519I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900930058519I), Sep 30, 1990: Goodyr GZ20 (N10A), Carson, CA, Minor damage. Struck by remote control model airplane on final approach. Sustained 12 inch by 3 inch tear in envelope.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.