Adams AB accident near Wyoming, Michigan, October 8, 1983
On October 8, 1983 at about 11:26 pm local time, a Adams AB (balloon), registered N4022K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wyoming, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1983 · about 11:26 pm local time
- Place
- Wyoming, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Adams AB
- Registration
- N4022K · registry record · serial 127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOON COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND, BOUNCED, HIT A HOUSE AND A UTILITY POLE BEFORE BEING TORN ENOUGH TO COME TO REST. THE HARD LANDING IN AN 8 KT WIND TORE THE VENT LINE FROM THE PILOTS HAND, HE LOST THE ABILITY TO VENT THE BALLOON AND DURING THE COLLISIONS AND DRAGGING HE LOST 2 STRIKERS HE WANTED TO USE TO RELIGHT THE BURNER PILOT LIGHTS. THE PARTIALLYDEFLATED BALLOON BECAME A SAIL AND DRAGGED THE BASKET UNTIL THE POLE AND WIRES RIPPED THE ENVELOPE TWO FULL GORE LENGTHSAND IT DEFLATED AFTER TRAVELING 300 FT FURTHER. FIVE OF THE SIX PEOPLE ON BOARD WERE NOT INJURED. ONE RECEIVED A BROKEN ANKLE WHICH REQUIRED SURGERY. THE BALLOON FLIGHT LASTED ABOUT ONE HOUR AND 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE LANDING ATTEMPT WHICH ENDED IN THE ACCIDENT.
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; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 32 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 23 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 26 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cannonsburg MI at 10:06 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from GRR, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.