Pilot Debrief

LINDSTRAND LBL69A near Albuquerque, NM — 2015-09-27

Final reportCEN15LA434
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Date
2015-09-27
Location
Albuquerque, NM, USA
Aircraft
LINDSTRAND LBL69A
Registration
N266LB
Category
Balloon
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate on approach, which resulted in a hard landing and the pilot sustaining a serious injury. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent experience flying a standard-shaped balloon.

NTSB narrative

The commercial balloon pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to obtain currency in landings and to practice steep approaches. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger obtained a weather briefing from flight service and also checked the weather at the launch site; the weather conditions were good for the flight. They took off in the balloon and began tracking to the south. The pilot immediately began practicing approaches and landings. She performed three approaches and full-stop landings on road intersections without any problems. She began the fourth approach to a road about 1,000 ft above ground level. The pilot reported that she misjudged the approach and that, upon landing, the balloon hit the road's edge hard. The pilot was thrown forward and hit the basket bolster with her chest. The balloon bounced and then touched down on the opposite side of the road. The basket then tipped over and was dragged about 10 ft before it stopped. The pilot sustained broken ribs during the accident. The pilot reported that the accident balloon was a standard-sized balloon, which was different from the racing balloon that she usually flew, and that the racing balloons climb and descend differently. It is likely that the pilot's lack of recent experience flying the standard-shaped balloon contributed to her failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the approach.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot misjudged descent during steep approach to dirt road.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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