Pilot Debrief

ARBC INC 69X near Longview, TX — 2015-07-22

Final reportCEN15LA314
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Date
2015-07-22
Location
Longview, TX, USA
Aircraft
ARBC INC 69X
Registration
N76627
Category
Balloon
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The balloon’s hard landing due to a high surface wind and downdraft, which resulted in the pilot sustaining a serious leg injury.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, as the balloon descended, the wind speed increased. He aborted the first landing to avoid power lines and chose to land in an adjacent field. During the landing, the balloon encountered a downdraft after the pilot turned off the burners and pulled the parachute top to release hot air. The balloon impacted the ground hard, dragged the basket a short distance, and then stopped. The balloon was not damaged, but the pilot's left hip and ankle were broken during the hard landing. An examination of the balloon and its systems revealed no anomalies.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen a safer landing area earlier in descent.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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