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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 27, 1995 · Thunder And Colt COLT 180A · N738TC

Tucson, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 27, 1995
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 6 uninjured
Location
Tucson, AZ
Aircraft
Thunder And Colt COLT 180A
Tail Number
N738TC
Operator
A Balloon Experience
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
LAX95LA172

NEAR THE CONCLUSION OF THE HOUR-LONG AERIAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, THE PILOT RECOGNIZED THAT IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO PERFORM A HIGH-WIND LANDING, AND THE BASKET MIGHT TIP OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE INFORMED HIS PASSENGERS TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE HIGH-WIND LANDING, AND THEY ALL APPEARED TO APPROPRIATELY RESPOND. JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT RIPPED OUT THE BALLOON TOP IN ORDER TO CONCLUDE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE BASKET TOUCHED DOWN SMOOTHLY IN A VERY LARGE FIELD. HOWEVER, AFTER TOUCHDOWN IT TIPPED OVER BECAUSE THE WIND AT GROUND LEVEL WAS BLOWING AT 7 KNOTS.

NTSB Probable Cause

the inability of the pilot to compensate for the wind conditions which resulted in the basket tipping over following touchdown during a high-wind landing.

Full Narrative

On April 27, 1995, at 0800 mountain standard time, a Thunder & Colt, Colt 180A balloon, N738TC, tipped over during a high-wind landing near Tucson, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The balloon was not damaged. The commercial pilot and five of the six passengers were not injured. The sixth passenger was seriously injured. The fare-paying passengers boarded the balloon for the aerial sightseeing flight from near Tucson, Arizona, around 0700. The pilot reported that he realized the basket might tip over upon landing, so he informed his passengers to prepare themselves for a high-wind landing in accordance with his previously issued directions. The ten-passenger-capacity balloon was compartmentalized, and all of the passengers appeared to respond appropriately for the landing. Just before touchdown, the pilot ripped out the balloon top in order to conclude the flight. The pilot also stated that the basket touched down smoothly in a very large field. However, after touchdown it tipped over because the wind at ground level was blowing at 7 knots.

Flight

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

Aircraft

AircraftThunder And Colt COLT 180A
Tail NumberN738TC
Aircraft CategoryBall
OperatorA Balloon Experience
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
Seats11

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 6 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured6
Total7
Crew 1Age 51 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind135° @ 7 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data