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NTSB Report

May 31, 2009 · National Ballooning 858 · N31802

Fremont, NE

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 31, 2009
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 3 uninjured
Location
Fremont, NE
Aircraft
National Ballooning 858
Tail Number
N31802
Operator
Jaworski Richard L
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
CEN09CA328

After a 60-minute morning balloon flight, the pilot executed a normal flare to a touchdown into two-foot high pasture grass on a soft soil base. GPS records show the touchdown was at six miles per hour. The pilot used the rotator vent to align the balloon so that all of the occupants were facing forward for the touchdown, and he had previously instructed the passengers on how to hold on to the rope handles and braces and how to slightly bend their knees for the first impacts of landing. The 79-year-old female passenger said that because she was so short, she had to stretch her left arm to hold on to the upper brace. At the first impact with the ground, her adult son standing behind her said that he heard a "pop" and that she then screamed in pain. After the basket stopped moving, the pilot deflated the balloon and tipped the basket on its side to assist the injured passenger in exiting. The passenger was transported to the hospital for treatment of a broken left humerus bone. The other occupants were not injured and the balloon was not damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause

The passenger’s inability to position herself properly for the normal balloon landing.

Full Narrative

After a 60-minute morning balloon flight the pilot executed a normal flare to a touch down into two-foot high pasture grass on a soft soil base. GPS records show the touchdown was at six miles per hour. The pilot used the rotator vent to align the balloon so all of the occupants were facing forward for the touchdown and had previously instructed the passengers how to hold on the rope handles and braces and how to slightly bend their knees for the first impacts of landing. A 79-year old female passenger said because she was so short she had to stretch her left arm to hold on to the upper brace. At the first contact with the ground, her adult son who was standing behind her, said he heard a "pop" and she screamed in pain. After the basket stopped moving the pilot deflated the balloon and tipped the basket on its side to assist the injured passenger in exiting. The passenger was transported to the hospital for treatment of a broken left humerus bone. The other occupants were not injured and the balloon was not damaged.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time06:57 CDT
Nearest AirportFremont Municipal Airport (5nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftNational Ballooning 858
Tail NumberN31802
Aircraft CategoryBall
OperatorJaworski Richard L
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Seats0

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 3 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total4
Crew 1Age 66 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 36 C
Altimeter29.96 inHg
Observation Time11:10
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data