# NTSB WPR26LA170: Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, N355WC, Elk Grove, CA, April 27, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 27, 2026, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Elk Grove, CA - Coordinates: 38.3821, -121.34727 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3821&lon=-121.3473&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 202905 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202905/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202905 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA170 ## 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 proximity of the balloon from structures during a static display. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=1370511), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1370511), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Parking/securing: tie-down/mooring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020/cases.md?model=1370511), [All aircraft, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Other: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1370511), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1370511), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the balloon reported that the balloon was secured to a three-point mooring system that was attached to three vehicles and 2,000 lbs of ballast was added to the basket for a static display. The wind pattern changed, which shifted most of the weight to one of the tether anchor lines. During a subsequent repositioning maneuver to increase the distance from the adjacent building for a precautionary deflation, the tether line failed and the balloon shifted towards the building. The pilot who was onboard during the static display, immediately applied burner to climb and clear the approaching building. After the balloon had ascended a second tether line failed under tension which allowed the balloon to clear the building. Photos provided by the pilot show the folded envelope and 7 bundles of the balloon’s flying wires. Five of the individual flying wires had separated and frayed ends. A media video taken from ground level showed the balloon floating about 30 ft above the ground and attached to tether lines that were secured to a large truck and two construction vehicles. The video showed the balloon’s envelope canted slightly to one side before the balloon’s tether line separated. One second later, the ballon moved towards the building as the basket rocked back and forth. The basket then impacted trees and flew over a crowd of people before it collided with the building. The balloon’s basket was dragged along the side of the building as it was pulled by the envelope. The video showed that the basket’s burner support rods on one side of the basket were bent as the basket hung at a slant from the envelope after the balloon ascended over the building. During the pilot’s subsequent approach to a field, the balloon impacted powerlines. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N355WC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N355WC), registered now, S/N 1293 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BALONY KUBICEK SPOL SRO BB100Z - Registry model: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z](https://openairdocs.org/model/balony-kubicek-spol-sro-bb100z) (registry code 1370511) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 1293 - Year built: 2016 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wim Scott van der Horst - Registered owner: Eagle Point Endeavors LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2023, 156 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N/A - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2026; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 8,525 total, 1,050 in this make and model, 8,510 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KSAC, 10 nm away - METAR: METAR KSAC 271853Z 29004KT 10SM SCT039 BKN047 17/07 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP171 T01720072 ## 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 20260427004519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260427004519A), Apr 27, 2026: Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z, Elk Grove, CA, Substantial damage. 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… ## Other investigations on N355WC (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 WPR19TA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA110), Apr 14, 2019: Kubicek BB100 (N355WC), St. Helena, CA, minor damage. Probable cause: The balloon pilot's encounter with unforecasted wind, which resulted in his decision to land in unsuitable terrain and a subsequent hard landing. Contributing to the severity of passenger injury was… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202905. 59.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20401043&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array-balloon damage (courtesy of the pilot) (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 485 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20399640&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Balloon%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20Owner)-Rel.pdf - Video clip of the accident site and impact sequence (courtesy of kcra news) (item 3, MP4, 57.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20401142&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=KCRA%20Media%20Aerial%20Video%20of%20the%20Accident%20Sequence-Rel.mp4 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.