# NTSB NYC81FHD02: Blimp EA-1, N5499A, Lakehurst, NJ, October 8, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 8, 1980
- Place: Lakehurst, NJ · LAKEHURST, NJ
- Location: 40.0131° N, 74.3204° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lakehurst, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0131&lon=-74.3204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 4, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127968
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81FHD02
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FHD02

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3399   80/10/8   LAKEHURST,NJ        BLIMP EA-1          CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 40, 1600
        TIME - 0850                    N5499A              PX-  0  0  0  TEST                      TOTAL HOURS, 0 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAKEHURST,NJ                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: POOR/INADEQUATE DESIGN
        REMARKS- 1ST TEST FLT.AIRSHIP ENTER R TURN W EVER DECREASING RADIUS.NOSED UP W PWR.DRIFTED INTO TREES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5499A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BLIMP EA-1
- Category: Blimp
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19801008049969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801008049969A), Oct 8, 1980: Amtr EA1, Lakehurst, NJ, Substantial damage. First test flight on blimp. Controls malfunctioned causing crash 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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