- Date
- September 5, 1993, 08:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place
- Truckee, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2021ACameron V-77
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 1, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930905033569A
- Case key
- 28470
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during the landing approach.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was attempting to land the balloon with his passenger. About 20 to 30 feet in the air he experienced lift and acceleration to the east. The balloon then collided with a pine tree at about 60 feet above ground level while gaining altitude. Ninety of the 144 panels comprising the envelope were damaged. The balloon slid down the pine tree to within about ten feet of the ground.
Factual narrative
On September 5, 1993, about 0840 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cameron V77 balloon, N2021A, operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged after colliding with a pine tree while maneuvering to land near the stampede reservoir. Neither the commercial balloon pilot nor his passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The origin point and time of the flight are undetermined.
The pilot stated to an FAA inspector from the Reno Flight Standards District Office that at approximately 20 to 30 feet above the ground he encountered lift and acceleration to the east. The balloon then collided with a pine tree at about 60 feet in the air and ripped the envelope while gaining altitude. It then slid down the pine tree stopping about ten feet above the ground. The pilot also stated that 90 of the 144 panels of the balloon were damaged.
An NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report form, was sent by certified mail to the pilot. After three attempts to deliver the mail, it was returned by the Post Office as undeliverable.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2021A
- Reported as
- Cameron V-77
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 5366
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- George F. Denny
- Registered owner
- George F. Denny
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Commercial
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.