# Accident 20260427004519A: Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, Elk Grove, CA, April 27, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 27, 2026, 12:14 local time
- Place: Elk Grove, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.3821° N, 121.3473° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3821&lon=-121.3473&mi=10
- Aircraft: N355WC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N355WC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z (registry code 1370511, https://openairdocs.org/model/balony-kubicek-spol-sro-bb100z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALONY KUBICEK SPOL SRO BB100Z
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 8,100 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA170) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260427004519A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON APRIL 27TH, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:15 PDT, A BALONEY KUBICEK BB100Z, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, BROKE FREE FROM GROUND TETHERS AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED A NEARBY BUILDING IN ELK GROVE, CA. THE BALLOON THEN PROCEEDED ON A BRIEF FLIGHT, STRIKING A POWER LINE WHILE LANDING IN A NEARBY FIELD. THERE WAS ONE PILOT ON BOARD WHO WAS NOT INJURED. THE BALLOON SUFFERED DAMAGE TO ENVELOPE ATTACHING CABLES. THE BALLOON WAS ENGAGED IN A STATIC TETHERED OPERATION APPROXIMATELY 160-180 FEET NORTHWEST OF A LARGE BUILDING PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. METARS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT INDICATED WINDS WERE IN A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB WPR26LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA170), Apr 27, 2026: Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z (N355WC), Elk Grove, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s delayed decision to deflate the balloon during a static display in windy conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with a building. Contributing to the accident was the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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