Pilot Debrief

HEAD BALLOONS INC AX8-88 near Ft. Wayne, IN — 2010-09-12

Final reportCEN10CA543
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Date
2010-09-12
Location
Ft. Wayne, IN, USA
Aircraft
HEAD BALLOONS INC AX8-88
Registration
N2064W
Category
Balloon
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for the landing.

NTSB narrative

The balloon was airborne for approximately 30 minutes prior to the pilot setting up for a landing in a grassy area alongside a road. The pilot reported that the ground crew informed him that there was a ditch running parallel to the side of the road. The balloon touched down in a bean field, about 20 feet from the grass area, and the ground crew grabbed the basket as it moved into the grass. The ground crew was not able to stop the basket and it traveled into the 10-foot deep ditch. The balloon came to rest at the bottom of the ditch with the ground crew still hanging on. One of the two passengers on board suffered a fractured leg. The injured passenger stated that she thought that either the other passenger or the pilot hit her leg during the landing. There was no damage to the balloon envelope or basket.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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