Adams A55 accident near Glendale, Arizona, January 21, 1990
On January 21, 1990 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Adams A55 (balloon), registered N4021L, was involved in an accident near Glendale, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE UNEXPECTED HIGH WIND CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 1990 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Glendale, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Adams A55
- Registration
- N4021L · registry record · serial 134
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT THE WIND VELOCITY INCREASED ABOUT 15 MIN AFTER SHE TOOK OFF IN THE BALLOON. SHE ESTIMATED THAT THE WINDS REACHED A SPEED OF 15 TO 18 KTS BY THE TIME SHE LANDED. DURING THE LANDING, THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN HARD & THE PLT'S LEFT ANKLE WAS FRACTURED. THE WIND HAD BEEN FORECAST TO BE 7 KTS UNTIL NOON.
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: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 54 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lone Mtn Road AZ at 3:00 pm
- Destination: El Mirage AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.