Avian SKYHAWK accident near Yakima, Washington, June 7, 1986
On June 7, 1986 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Avian SKYHAWK (balloon), registered N7001N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yakima, Washington. It was a personal 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
- June 7, 1986 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yakima, Washington
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avian SKYHAWK
- Registration
- N7001N · registry record · serial 115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE BALLOON STRUCK POWER LINES, SEVERING THE BASKET FROM THE ENVELOPE. SPARKS FROM THE WIRE STRIKE CAUSED A SMALL BRUSH FIRE. POST ACCIDENT EXAM REVEALED THE PLT INADVERTENTLY CONNECTED THE THIRD BOTTLE OF FUEL INCORRECTLY.
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: 50 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 1985; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNK (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Heath Northwest INC.
The flight
- Departed from: YKM Yakima WA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.