Adams Balloons LLC A55S accident near Safford, Arizona, April 10, 2022
On April 10, 2022 at about 2:03 pm local time, a 2019 Adams Balloons LLC A55S, registered N866RA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Safford, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to continue the balloon’s fast approach to an unsuitable confined landing site, which resulted in a collision with powerline wires.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2022 · about 2:03 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Safford, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Adams Balloons LLC A55S, built 2019 · all A55Ss on the register
- Registration
- N866RA · registry record · serial 264
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff as they climbed to a higher altitude, she noticed the burners sounded different and they didn’t seem to produce as much power as they usually did, so she elected to perform an emergency landing. During the descent, the balloon descended below power lines, and the pilot applied maximum available power to avoid a collision with the power lines. The pilot then decreased the power to immediately land in a nearby parking lot. The balloon touched down, bounced and the envelope contacted power lines that bordered the fence enclosed parking lot. Just beyond the parking lot where the pilot landed was open uninhabited land. Postaccident examination of the accident balloon’s fuel supply system, ignition, burner, gages, and operational checks revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot was able to successfully add power to climb over the power lines as she approached her selected landing site, indicating that she still possessed control over the balloon’s descent rate. Despite still having climb capabilities, she elected to continue the approach to the confined area, which resulted in a collision with power lines. Review of the landing area indicated that there were miles of unobstructed hazard-free landing sites that would have been more suitable for the 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
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 275 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 247 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 17, 2001
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: unkn
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: unkn
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 223.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Safford AZ at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 am from KSAD, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSAD 101351Z AUTO 07005KT 10SM CLR 14/M09 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP059 T01441089
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Parking lot selected by the pilot for emergency landing
Photo 2 – View of propane tank #1 at accident site
Photo 4 – View of propane tank #3 at accident site
Photo 6 – Accident Balloon’s Flight TrackThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 10, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Balloon Examination -faa | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA-H-8083-11 Balloon Flying Handbook Fuel Tank Performance Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photographs | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | 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
- N866RA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Adams Balloons Llc A55 12 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,431 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR22LA152.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.