Worldwide Aero AEROS-40B N819AC

Summary

On 28 June 2000 at about 15:05 local time, a Worldwide Aero AEROS-40B registered N819AC, operated by Airship USA, Inc., was involved in an accident near San Bernadino, California, United States. 3 people were on board. One person on the ground also died. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 June 2000 at 15:05

Classification

Accident

Location

San Bernadino, California, United States

Nearest airport

San Bernadino (KSBD)

Coordinates

36.1161, -119.6812

Aircraft

Worldwide Aero AEROS-40B

Registration

N819AC

Category

Blimp

Engines

2

Operator

Airship USA, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Bernadino → San Bernadino

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX00LA242

Injuries not recorded.

The ground crew's diverted attention toward the landing airship while trying to catch a mooring rope, which resulted in their failure to detect an immenient collision with each other.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The twin engine airship was landing, and there were two ground crew assigned to catch the mooring rope and assist with the blimp landing. As the blimp neared the landing area, one of the ground handlers caught the nose line and the other ground handler ran to assist the first ground handler, who was running with the nose mooring rope to slow the airship. Both of the ground handlers collided with one another during this process and the second one fell backward and hit his head on the concrete ramp, which resulted in fatal head injuries. The ground crew personnel were not wearing helmets at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.