# NTSB ATL03IA006: American Blimp A-60, N660VL, Valdosta, GA, October 21, 2002

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: October 21, 2002, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Valdosta, GA
- Coordinates: 30.782499, -83.276664
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7825&lon=-83.2767&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 15, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Atlanta FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55911
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03IA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55911/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03IA006

## Probable cause

Loss of airship control during tie down, due to gusty wind conditions.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, other
  - weather condition - gusts (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, flightcrew (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, other
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he and his crew member were preparing to secure the blimp after landing. The crew member exited the blimp and attempted to tie it down. The winds were gusting, and the crew member needed extra assistance in securing the blimp. As onlookers came to aid the crew members, a gust of wind blew the blimp into nearby trees.

## Factual narrative

On October 21, 2002, at 1745 eastern daylight time, an American Blimp Corporation A-60 blimp, N660VL, registered to and operated by Lightship Group, collided with trees during an attempted tie down at Valdosta Regional Airport, Valdosta, Georgia. The positioning flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. The airship sustained minor damage and the commercial pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Orlando Executive Airport, Florida, at 0954.

According to the pilot, he and his crew member were preparing to secure the blimp after landing. The crew member exited the blimp to attempt to tie it down. The winds were gusting, and the crew member needed extra assistance in securing the blimp. As onlookers came to aid the crew members, a gust of wind blew the blimp into nearby trees.

Examination of the blimp revealed the envelope was torn during the removal from the trees. The gondola had a fabric tear on the underside. The fins had fabric tears and recovery damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N660VL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: American Blimp Corp. A-60
- Category: Blimp
- Serial number: 006
- Engines: Limbach L2000-EC 68 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lightship Group
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: VLD, VALDOSTA, GA
- Destination: TMA, TIFTON, GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: VLD, Valdosta Regional

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 23, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,280 total, 596 in this make and model, 852 as pilot in command, 203 in the last 90 days, 86 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: VLD, 3 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20021021032879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021021032879I), Oct 21, 2002: Amblmp ABCA60, Valdosta, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) While attempting to land, wind gust blew into trees.

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.

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