American Blimp A-1-50 N151LG

Summary

On 16 April 1998 at about 19:30 local time, a American Blimp A-1-50 registered N151LG was involved in an accident near Quincy, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 April 1998 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Quincy, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Quincy Municipal (2J9)

Coordinates

30.5806, -84.5803

Aircraft

American Blimp A-1-50

Registration

N151LG

Category

Blimp

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tallahassee → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA98LA134

Nobody was injured.

The pilot-in-command's and groundcrew chief's failure to properly evaluate wind conditions prior to attempting to moor the blimp.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.