Cameron Balloons US A-250 accident near Napa, California, November 11, 2009
On November 11, 2009 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Cameron Balloons US A-250, registered N4062M, was involved in an accident during landing near Napa, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 12 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's encounter with variable winds which resulted in a hard landing and passenger injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 2009 · about 5:45 pm local time · cases in 2009
- Place
- Napa, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 12 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cameron Balloons US A-250 · all A-250s on the register
- Registration
- N4062M · registry record · serial 6508
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the balloon reported that after three unsuccessful landing attempts during the sightseeing flight, he located a grassy 2-3 acre field and positioned the balloon for landing. He stated that the approach was from the northwest at 500-feet and the balloon was traveling about 6 knots. The pilot anticipated winds near the surface to be from the east; however, after descending to 250-feet the balloon continued in a southerly direction, near trees. The pilot executed a controlled descent over a tree and landed firmly. The basket bounced once and came to rest upright with the balloon's envelope against a tree. After the landing, one of the passengers complained of ankle pain and was transported to a hospital. A medical evaluation revealed that the passenger's ankle was fractured. The pilot reported that a passenger landing briefing was completed prior to landing.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 5,465 hours in all; 360 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Napa Valley Balloons INC
The flight
- Departed from: Yountville CA at 8:10 am
- Destination: Napa CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 145° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 11 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on November 27, 2009. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4062M on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cameron Balloons Us A-250 20 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,112 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR10CA058.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.