# NTSB LAX90LA340: Balloon Works Firefly 9, N90902, Vacaville, CA, September 29, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 29, 1990, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Vacaville, CA
- Location: 38.3586° N, 121.9686° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vacaville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3586&lon=-121.9686&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 8 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26935
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA340
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26935/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA340

## Probable cause

THE BALLOON'S ENCOUNTER WITH A SUDDEN INCREASE IN WIND SPEED ACCOMPAINED BY A STRONG DOWN DRAFT BEYOND THE COMPENSATION CAPABILITY OF THE BALLOON.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded (cause)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - wire,transmission
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE TWO FLIGHTS CONDUCTED EARLIER IN THE MORNING WERE NORMAL WITH WINDS IN THE 4 MPH RANGE. ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE WINDS SUDDENLY INCREASED FROM 4 TO 12 MPH. THE PILOT THEN SAID, 'INSTANTLY, WITHOUT INDICATION, A WHIRLWIND CAUGHT THE BALLOON AND SPUN IT 360 DEGREES; A DOWNDRAFT OCCURRED WITH A DESCENT RATE OF 500 FEET PER MINUTE.' THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE RATE OF DESCENT AND THE BALLOON COLLIDED WITH A SET OF POWER LINES, THEN THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90902](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90902-1995-10-27), registration cancelled 1995-10-27, S/N F9039 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 9
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 9](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-9) (registry code 1050120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F9-039
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert Barbarick
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; flight hours: 3,225 total, 450 in this make and model, 218 in the last 90 days, 110 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 18 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900929050179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900929050179A), Sep 29, 1990: Balwks FIREFLY9, Vacaville, CA. Sudden wind increase then hit by whirlwind and unable to stop descent. Struck wires and dragged on ground.

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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