Aerostar S-66A accident near Davis, California, June 16, 1990
On June 16, 1990 at about 3:37 pm local time, a Aerostar S-66A (balloon), registered N6307C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Davis, California. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY MANAGE THE FUEL VALVES TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUEL PRESSURE TO THE BURNER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1990 · about 3:37 pm local time
- Place
- Davis, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar S-66A
- Registration
- N6307C · no longer on the register · serial 3041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT THE PILOT OBSERVED THAT THE BALLOONS' BURNER WAS NOT PRODUCING SUFFICIENT FLAME TO KEEP THE BALLOON FROM DESCENDING. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH WIRES. DURING THE POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION, TWO OF THE FOUR FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND CONTAINING FUEL, AND TWO TANKS WERE NEARLY EMPTY. THE PILOT LIGHT WAS LIGHTED AND THE BURNER SATISFACTORILY OPERATED WHEN THE TANKS CONTAINING FUEL WERE PLACE ON-LINE.
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: 600 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 580 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 6, 1990; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.