Pilot Debrief

NATIONAL BALLOONING LTD 858 near Pierce, NE — 2012-06-17

Final reportCEN12CA393
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Date
2012-06-17
Location
Pierce, NE, USA
Aircraft
NATIONAL BALLOONING LTD 858
Registration
N9005E
Category
Balloon
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The balloon pilot’s encounter with increased wind during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and a passenger’s injury.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was participating with about eight other balloons in an early morning mass ascension. After about 45 minutes of flight, the pilot observed that the wind had increased and determined that a “high-wind landing” would be necessary. His two passengers had not experienced a balloon flight before, and the pilot instructed them that they should hold on tightly and face forward, with their feet pointed straight ahead and their knees bent to absorb the shock of the landing. He also advised them that the basket would likely tip over during the landing. The balloon initially touched down hard in a flat, harvested field, then bounced and touched down a second time. The pilot reported his ground speed was about 13 to 14 mph. During the second touchdown the basket tipped over and was dragged about 100 feet, coming to rest on its side in an adjacent cornfield. The pilot deflated the balloon envelope and the three occupants began to climb out of the basket. The 70-year old passenger was seriously injured during the landing. The balloon was not damaged. The pilot said that he thought the passenger’s injury occurred because she did not have her feet pointed straight ahead during the landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen a different landing technique to mitigate risks.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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