Adams UNKNOWN accident near Soleburg, Pennsylvania, April 27, 1989
On April 27, 1989 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Adams UNKNOWN (balloon), registered N4022Q, was involved in an accident near Soleburg, Pennsylvania. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION WHICH RESULTED IN DELAYING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT INCLUDED HIGH WINDS AND THE LACK OF RESTRAINING DEVICES INSIDE THE BASKET TO HELP THE OCCUPANTS REMAIN INSIDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1989 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Soleburg, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Adams UNKNOWN
- Registration
- N4022Q · registry record · serial 148
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT AT TAKEOFF THE WIND WAS CALM; HOWEVER, AFTER ABOUT 45 MINUTES OF FLIGHT, THE WIND INCREASED SO HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE BALLOON IN THE NEAREST ACCEPTABLE LANDING AREA. THE WIND WAS ABOUT 15 TO 18 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE BASKET FELL OVER AND A PASSENGER FELL OUT. THE BALLOON THEN WENT AIRBORNE AGAIN DUE TO THE LOSS OF WEIGHT AND RELANDED, HITTING THE PASSENGER WITH THE BASKET. THE BASKET CONTAINED NO RESTRAINING DEVICES TO HELP THE OCCUPANTS REMAIN INSIDE.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 579 hours in all; 124 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Readington NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.