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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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May 21, 1994 · Cameron V-77 · N1992B

Durango, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 21, 1994
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Durango, CO
Aircraft
Cameron V-77
Tail Number
N1992B
Operator
Donahower Karen H
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
FTW94LA172

DURING THE LANDING SEQUENCE FOLLOWING A COMMERCIAL AIR TOUR FLIGHT, A DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE BALLOON LANDED HARD. THIS LANDING CAUSED THE COMMERCIAL PILOT TO BREAK HER ANKLE AND ONE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED. THE BALLOON BECAME AIRBORNE FOLLOWING THIS LANDING AND ASCENDED TO APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET. A SECOND LANDING WAS MADE, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE PILOT AGGRAVATED HER PREVIOUS ANKLE INJURY. THE BALLOON CHASE CREW PICKED UP THE EJECTED PASSENGER AND CALLED EMERGENCY SERVICES TO ASSIST THE PILOT. THE EJECTED PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES DURING THE EJECTION.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT DID NOT ATTAIN A PROPER LEVEL OFF DURING LANDING. A DOWNDRAFT WHICH WAS ENCOUNTERED WAS A FACTOR.

Full Narrative

On May 21, 1994, at 0800 mountain daylight time, a Cameron U. S. V-77 hot air balloon, N1992B, sustained no damage in a hard landing. The pilot suffered serious injuries, one passenger minor injuries, and the second passenger no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for this local area air tour business flight. The flight originated in Durango, Colorado, at 0710. According to the pilot, she was descending the balloon for a landing in calm winds when a downdraft was encountered. The balloon landed hard and one passenger was ejected from the basket. It then became airborne and ascended to approximately 800 feet above ground level and drifted to the east. A second landing was made in a field and emergency personnel were called to treat the pilot and one passenger. The pilot said she broke her ankle in the initial hard landing and injured it further in the second landing. All three persons aboard were transported to local medical facilities for evaluation and treatment as required.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:00 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCameron V-77
Tail NumberN1992B
Aircraft CategoryBall
OperatorDonahower Karen H
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
Seats0

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total3
Crew 1Age 27 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 16 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data