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April 13, 2008 · Ultramagic N-250 · N35EX

Buckeye, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 13, 2008
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 10 uninjured
Location
Buckeye, AZ
Aircraft
Ultramagic N-250
Tail Number
N35EX
Operator
Hot Air Expeditions
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
LAX08CA112

The pilot stated that prior to departing for the sightseeing flight in the balloon, he gave the 10 passengers a safety briefing. The briefing included instructions on hard landings, which were to hang onto a handle and stay low in the basket. During the flight, the winds increased, and the pilot estimated there was an 18- to 20-mph wind blowing for the landing. Prior to landing, he warned the passengers it would be a "hard rough landing." When the balloon was on final approach, he told the passengers to "grab handles, get down, get way down, stay down." The balloon contacted the ground and was dragged 50 to 70 yards. During the ground drag, the pilot heard one of the passengers yell out that her nose was broken. She had bumped her face on the rail getting down. Additionally, she sustained a broken wrist. Later, the passenger told the pilot that she had "wanted to look, and did not get down in time." The injured passenger reported that before takeoff, the pilot told the passengers, "if I tell you it's going to be rough, get down in the bottom of the basket." The passenger did not recall whether the pilot told the passengers it was going to be rough before the landing. It was a rough landing, and her son, who was also a passenger, pulled her into the bottom of the basket.

NTSB Probable Cause

The passenger's failure to hear and follow the pilot's instructions to get down in the bottom of the balloon basket before the high wind landing. A contributing factor was the high wind condition.

Full Narrative

In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that prior to departing for the sightseeing flight in the balloon, he gave the 10 passengers a safety briefing. The briefing included instructions on hard landings, which were to hang onto a handle and stay low in the basket. During the flight, the winds increased, and the pilot estimated there was an 18- to 20-mph wind blowing for the landing. Prior to landing, he warned the passengers it would be a "hard rough landing." When the balloon was on final approach, he told the passengers to "grab handles, get down, get way down, stay down." The balloon contacted the ground and was dragged 50 to 70 yards. During the ground drag, the pilot heard one of the passengers yell out that her nose was broken. She had bumped her face on the rail getting down. Additionally, she sustained a broken wrist. Later, the passenger told the pilot that she had "wanted to look, and did not get down in time." During a telephone interview, the injured passenger reported that before takeoff, the pilot told the passengers, "if I tell you it's going to be rough, get down in the bottom of the basket." The passenger did not recall whether the pilot told the passengers it was going to be rough before the landing. It was a rough landing, and her son, who was also a passenger, pulled her into the bottom of the basket.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:30 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftUltramagic N-250
Tail NumberN35EX
Aircraft CategoryBall
OperatorHot Air Expeditions
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 10 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured10
Total11
Crew 1Age 60 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data