Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

July 15, 2021 · Cameron 0-105 · N2925L

Piermont, NH

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 15, 2021
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 minor injury), 3 uninjured
Location
Piermont, NH
Aircraft
Cameron 0-105 (1984)
Tail Number
N2925L
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA21LA290

The balloon departed with the pilot and four passengers for a commercial sightseeing flight. About 45 minutes into the flight, the burner’s pilot light extinguished. The pilot told the passengers that he had to switch propane tanks; however, he could not locate the striker to relight the burner. The balloon started to descend while the pilot searched the balloon basket for the striker, and several minutes later, he located a backup striker. The balloon had descended close to the ground by the time the pilot re-lit the pilot light, and he could not get the balloon to climb before impacting a field. One passenger and the pilot were thrown from the basket upon impact. The balloon then started to rise, and the pilot’s foot was trapped between the balloon attach rope and the basket frame. The pilot untangled his foot but remained hanging below the basket for about 1 mile before falling to a field and suffering fatal injuries. The remaining passengers contacted ground support personnel via a handheld radio and received instructions on how to operate the balloon controls in preparation for landing. The balloon traveled about another 3.5 miles before landing in trees. Examination of the balloon did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Had the pilot been able to relight the burner in a timely manner, it was likely that he would have been able to sufficiently arrest the balloon’s descent rate to prevent the hard landing.

NTSB Probable Cause

The balloon pilot’s delay in relighting the burner, which resulted in a hard landing and his ejection from the balloon.

Full Narrative

On July 15, 2021, about 1945 eastern daylight time, a Cameron Balloons 0-105, N2925L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Piermont, New Hampshire. The pilot was fatally injured, one passenger received minor injuries, and three passengers were not injured. The balloon was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 commercial sightseeing flight. The pilot was the owner and operator of the balloon. According to a passenger, the balloon departed Post Mills Airport (2B9), Post Mills, Vermont, about 1830 with the pilot and four passengers onboard and flew northeast along the Connecticut River toward Bradford, Vermont. The balloon was aloft about 45 minutes when the pilot reported the pilot light on the burner had extinguished. He changed the propane tank, but could not locate the striker to relight the burner. The balloon started to descend while the pilot searched the balloon basket for the striker. He did not locate the original striker, but did locate the backup in a supply pocket several minutes later. The balloon had descended close to the ground by then and the pilot re-lit the pilot light; however, he could not get the balloon to climb before impacting a field. One passenger and the pilot were thrown from the basket upon impact. The balloon then started to rise, and the pilot’s foot was trapped between the balloon attach rope and the basket frame. The pilot untangled his foot, but remained hanging below the basket for an estimated 1.25 miles before falling to a field near the Connecticut River. The remaining passengers contacted the balloon ground support personnel via a handheld radio and received instructions on how to operate the balloon controls in preparation for landing. The balloon traveled about 3.45 miles from the ejection site before landing in trees. The pilot, age 72, held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for lighter-than-air balloon and private privileges for airplane single-engine land. Additionally, he held a repairman certificate for hot air balloon and airship. Review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records revealed that the pilot’s most recent third-class medical certificate was issued on May 25, 1993. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 4,500 hours. The pilot’s logbook was not recovered. The aircraft logbooks were not recovered. Review of the FAA database revealed that the registration matched a Cameron balloon manufactured in 1984; however, the pilot had modified the balloon such that, at the time of the accident, no component of the balloon was manufactured by Cameron. The balloon was examined following its recovery to the pilot’s hangar. The examination revealed that the basket and burner were originally manufactured by Galaxy Balloons and modified by the pilot, the propane gas tanks were manufactured by Worthington, and the envelope was built by the pilot. The basket, propane tanks, and burner operated normally. The burner’s pilot light lighted without difficulty. The envelope was removed from its storage bag and laid out for examination. No preimpact anomalies were noted with the basket or envelope that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicological testing of the pilot revealed metoprolol (a beta blocker to reduce blood pressure) in blood and urine.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:45 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCameron 0-105
Tail NumberN2925L
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 minor injury), 3 uninjured
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured3
Total5
Crew 1Age 72 · None · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter29.97 inHg
Observation Time19:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data