- Date
- April 1, 2019, 07:57 local (14:57 UTC)
- Place
- Yountville, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor, 19 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6954YCameron A-400
- Defining event
- Enroute: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 3
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190401010709A
- Case key
- 99223
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 inability to maintain obstacle clearance after the balloon’s encounter with a downdraft, which resulted in a collision with power lines.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During cruise flight, the balloon encountered a sudden downdraft. The pilot arrested the descent to level flight, but not in time to prevent the bottom of the basket from contacting nearby power lines. The pilot subsequently landed the balloon without further incident. One passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
On April 1, 2019, about 0757 Pacific daylight time, a Cameron Balloons US, A-400 hot air balloon, N6954YA, was not damaged when it was involved in an accident near Napa, California. The pilot and 18 passengers were not injured, one passenger sustained serious injuries and two passengers sustained minor injuries. The balloon was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 sightseeing flight. The pilot reported that, about 10 minutes into the flight, and about 500 ft, the wind changed direction and the balloon entered a downdraft. The pilot added heat to compensate for the descent and level flight was established. The balloon’s basket subsequently contacted a power line. After the pilot attained a slow ascent, the power line released from the basket, and the pilot immediately landed the balloon in a field without further incident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6954Y
- Reported as
- Cameron A-400 (No Series)
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 6826
- Built
- 2017
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Balloon
- Departed
- Yountville, CA
- Destination
- Yountville, CA
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Equipment
- None
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
- 71
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- None
- Restraint
- None
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- KAPC, 12 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.