# NTSB ERA25LA321: Air Fly Balonismo E Inflaveis AF-SS-94, N591KY, Walbridge, OH, August 22, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 22, 2025, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Walbridge, OH - Coordinates: 41.566168, -83.465816 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5662&lon=-83.4658&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 20, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200882/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200882 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA321 ## Probable cause The balloon pilot’s failure to see and avoid powerlines during an off-field airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Fly Balonismo E Inflaveis AF-SS-94, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=056423T), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Fly Balonismo E Inflaveis AF-SS-94, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=056423T), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Fly Balonismo E Inflaveis AF-SS-94, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=056423T), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the hot air balloon planned for a local sightseeing flight that departed and returned to the same airport. During the flight, the pilot realized that the balloon would not be able to return to the airport as planned, so he selected a field for an off-airport landing. During the final portion of the landing approach, one of the passengers alerted the pilot to the presence of a previously unseen powerline. Due to the balloon’s close proximity to the ground and the powerline, the pilot elected to vent the envelope and allow it to drape over the power line rather than risk the parts of the balloon between the envelope and the basket contacting the powerline. After touchdown, the envelope and the upper portion of one (steel) riser cable contacted two wires. The pilot heard a pop and saw an arc, which ultimately resulted in substantial damage to the riser cable, a quick link connector, and the envelope. The pilot and passengers were not injured. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N591KY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N591KY), registered now, S/N LP2025-03, built 2025 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR FLY BALONISMO E INFLAVEIS AF-SS-94 - Registry model: [Air Fly Balonismo E Inflaveis AF-SS-94](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-fly-balonismo-e-inflaveis-af-ss-94) (registry code 056423T) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: LP2025-03 - Year built: 2025 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Condition, May 1, 2025 - Departed: TDZ, Toledo, OH - Airport: TDZ, Toledo Exec - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 13, 2025; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 11,000 total, 7 in this make and model, 9,500 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TOL, 15 nm away - METAR: KTOL 222352Z 31003KT 10SM SCT048 26/15 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP154 T02560150 10278 20250 56008 $ ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250822013179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250822013179A), Aug 22, 2025: Air Fly Balonismo E Inflaveis AF-SS-94, Millbury, OH, Substantial damage. While descending parallel along a road/powerlines, pilot spotted a grass field between adjacent businesses to use for landing. While descending noticed… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200882. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19233259&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 530 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19233535&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.