# NTSB WPR19LA104: Cameron A-400, N6954Y, Yountville, CA, April 1, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 1, 2019, 07:57 local (14:57 UTC) - Place: Yountville, CA - Coordinates: 38.39611, -122.35778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3961&lon=-122.3578&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 19 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99223 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99223/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99223 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA104 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=1880117), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1880117), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1880117), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1880117), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-400, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1880117), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US A-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1880117), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6954Y), registered now, S/N 6826, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cameron A-400 (No Series) - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US A-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-a-400) (registry code 1880117) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6826 - Year built: 2017 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Departed: Yountville, CA - Destination: Yountville, CA - Flight plan: Unknown - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20190401010709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190401010709A), Apr 1, 2019: Cameron Balloons US A-400, Yountville, CA, No damage. The balloon was caught in a down draft and came in contact with a power line. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99223. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 789 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10025998&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (provided to the FAA by the operator) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 302 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10026408&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.