# NTSB MIA98LA134: American Blimp A-1-50, N151LG, Quincy, FL, April 16, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 1998, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Quincy, FL - Coordinates: 30.58056, -84.580307 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5806&lon=-84.5803&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38499 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38499/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA134 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's and groundcrew chief's failure to properly evaluate wind conditions prior to attempting to moor the blimp. ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative On April 16, 1998, about 1530 eastern daylight time, an American Blimp Corporation A-1-50 blimp, N151LG, registered to Virgin Lightship Group, collided with trees while attempting to moor at Quincy Municipal Airport, Quincy, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The blimp received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot and second pilot were not injured. The flight originated from Tallahassee, Florida, the same day, about 1300. The pilot stated they had been giving rides from a field near Tallahassee. When it became too windy for landing, they discharged all passengers and flew around the area for about 2 hours to advertise. They then proceeded to Quincy Municipal Airport, where they were basing the blimp. The wind seemed much stronger at the Quincy Municipal Airport than at the field in Tallahassee. While approaching the ground-based mast for mooring, with the ground crew in control of the blimp, a wind gust, estimated to be about 30 knots, acted on the blimp and blew it to the east toward trees. He applied full engine power to try and avoid the trees; however, the blimp collided with the trees. The bag was torn and lost buoyancy. The gondola descended and landed hard, at which time the right landing gear collapsed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, taxi - aerial - weather condition - gusts - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather evaluation - improper, ground personnel (cause) - object - tree(s) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command - aircraft control - not possible, ground personnel ## Aircraft - Registration: N151LG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: American Blimp Corp. A-1-50 - Category: Blimp - Serial number: 102 - Airframe hours: 464 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B1G6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Virgin Lightship Group - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 1998, 6 hours before - Departed: TALLAHASSEE, FL - Destination: 2J9 - Airport: 2J9, Quincy Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 9,146 total, 440 in this make and model, 8,600 as pilot in command, 157 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 12 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,100 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 15 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). - [Accident 19980416006919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980416006919A), Apr 16, 1998: Amblp A150, Quincy, FL, Substantial damage. 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… 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.