Adams UNKNOWN N4022Q
27 April 1989 · Soleburg, Pennsylvania, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 27 April 1989 at about 23:15 local time, a Adams UNKNOWN registered N4022Q, operated by Robert Mueller, was involved in an accident near Soleburg, Pennsylvania, United States. 4 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Soleburg, Pennsylvania, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Adams UNKNOWN
- Registration
- N4022Q
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Robert Mueller
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Readington → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- Unk
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC89LA131
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION WHICH RESULTED IN DELAYING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT INCLUDED HIGH WINDS AND THE LACK OF RESTRAINING DEVICES INSIDE THE BASKET TO HELP THE OCCUPANTS REMAIN INSIDE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT SAID THAT AT TAKEOFF THE WIND WAS CALM; HOWEVER, AFTER ABOUT 45 MINUTES OF FLIGHT, THE WIND INCREASED SO HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE BALLOON IN THE NEAREST ACCEPTABLE LANDING AREA. THE WIND WAS ABOUT 15 TO 18 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE BASKET FELL OVER AND A PASSENGER FELL OUT. THE BALLOON THEN WENT AIRBORNE AGAIN DUE TO THE LOSS OF WEIGHT AND RELANDED, HITTING THE PASSENGER WITH THE BASKET. THE BASKET CONTAINED NO RESTRAINING DEVICES TO HELP THE OCCUPANTS REMAIN INSIDE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jul 1989 | Cessna 150L | Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States | Gull Aviation, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Jul 1989 | Schweizer 1-23 | Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, United States | Bruno Cerceo | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 1989 | Cessna 172 | Mt Pleasant, Pennsylvania, United States | Milton R. Barclay | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1989 | Schweizer 269C | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Atlantic Leasing SER., Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 1989 | Grumman AA-5 | Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, United States | Jess Baker | No injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 1989 | Ryan ST-3KR | Factoryville, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |