Cameron 0-77 accident near Tiburon, California, September 30, 1986
On September 30, 1986 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cameron 0-77 (balloon), registered N2948G, was destroyed in an accident near Tiburon, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- September 30, 1986 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tiburon, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron 0-77
- Registration
- N2948G · no longer on the register · serial 5054
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER COMPLETING AN AERIAL ADVERTISING FLIGHT ACROSS THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY, THE PLT ATTEMPTED A LANDING ON UP-SLOPING TERRAIN. THE TERRAIN WAS STEEPER THAN ANTICIPATED & THE PLT BECAME DISTRACTED. THE PLT FORGOT TO TURN OFF THE PILOT LIGHT TO THE LEFT BURNER. WHEN THE BALLOON DESCENDED ON THE GONDOLA DURING THE TOUCHDOWN SEQUENCE. THE OPERATING PILOT LIGHT IGNITED RESIDUAL FUEL IN THE FUEL LINE. THE FIRE SPREAD & THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 134 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 1986; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: San Francisco CA at 3:03 pm
- Destination: Oakland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.