Kubicek BB100Z accident near Hidden Valley Lake, California, July 18, 2015
On July 18, 2015 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 2012 Kubicek BB100Z (balloon), registered N938BS, was involved in an accident during landing near Hidden Valley Lake, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured; 17 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The balloon pilot’s deliberate hard landing to avoid power lines and trees, which resulted in serious passenger injuries.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2015 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hidden Valley Lake, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured; 17 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Kubicek BB100Z, built 2012
- Registration
- N938BS · registry record · serial 914
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while landing the balloon in variable wind conditions, he "deliberately made firm contact with the ground" to avoid power lines and trees ahead. The balloon then bounced about 20 ft and impacted the ground again. During the second impact, 3 of the 19 passengers sustained serious injuries; the balloon was not damaged.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 6,550 hours in all; 331 in this make and model; 6,455 as pilot in command; 250 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 7, 2015
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 339.1 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 6, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 21
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hidden Valley CA at 3:45 pm
- Destination: Hidden Valley CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KSTS, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 16 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 17, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot and Passenger | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.