Balloon Works 8B accident near Round Rock, Texas, March 1, 1986
On March 1, 1986 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Balloon Works 8B, registered N74176, was substantially damaged in an accident near Round Rock, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. 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
- March 1, 1986 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Round Rock, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works 8B
- Registration
- N74176 · no longer on the register · serial F8B-45
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOON WAS DAMAGED DURING LANDING IN A WIND OF 15 KTS GUSTING TO 40 KTS. THE PLT SAID THAT THE SURFACE WIND INCREASED DURING THE FLT. THE BALLOON WAS BLOWN ABOUT 900 YDS WHILE DRAGGING THE BASKET ACROSS A GRASS FIELD DURING THE LANDING.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 930 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 930 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Austin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 40
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.