Adams A55S accident near Woodstock, Georgia, July 4, 1999
On July 4, 1999 at about 1:29 am local time, a Adams A55S (balloon), registered N9808S, was destroyed in an accident near Woodstock, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loose connection between the fuel line fitting and the burner assembly which resulted in a fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1999 · about 1:29 am local time
- Place
- Woodstock, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Adams A55S
- Registration
- N9808S · registry record · serial 179
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the balloon was carefully examined and assembled prior to flight and no mechanical problems were found. After 45 minutes of standing and ascending tether operations, the pilot's son noticed fire dripping from the fitting that connects the main fuel line to the burner assembly. After unsuccessfully trying to extinguish the fire, the pilot pushed his son from the balloon at ground level. The balloon then ascended rapidly to the extent of the 25 foot tethers. At that point, the pilot elected to jump from the balloon. After 15 to 20 minutes, the fire burned through the tether ropes releasing the balloon, which drifted unmanned for approximately one hour before descending and colliding with a single family dwelling. The balloon was destroyed. Examination of the fuel line fitting revealed a loose connection between the two threaded ends. According to the manufacturer of the fuel hose, it is produced for use in air conditioning applications and should never be used with LP gas.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 825 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1999; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Alpharetta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.