Adams A55 accident near Alachua, Florida, April 20, 1986
On April 20, 1986 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Adams A55 (balloon), registered N10600, was involved in an accident near Alachua, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- April 20, 1986 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Alachua, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Adams A55
- Registration
- N10600 · no longer on the register · serial 085
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THE HE DECIDED TO LAND BECAUSE THE WIND HAD PICKED UP DURING THE FLT. UPON LANDING THE GONDOLA TIPPED OVER RESULTING IN HIMSELF AND ONE PASSENGER FALLING ON TOP OF THE OTHER PASSENGER, WHO RECEIVED A FRACTURED LEG.
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: 174 hours in all; 174 in this make and model; 174 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 148 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1985; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GNV Gainsville FL at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from GNV, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.