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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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October 16, 2010 · Lindstrand Balloons 90A · N807PW

Cottonwood, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 16, 2010
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (3 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Location
Cottonwood, AZ
Aircraft
Lindstrand Balloons 90A
Tail Number
N807PW
Operator
Eric Wadleigh
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR11LA017

The pilot of a hot air balloon reported that he was on a local area flight during an airport appreciation day at the departure airport. During the flight, he saw a powered paraglider maneuver close to the envelope of his hot air balloon. The paraglider subsequently collided with the envelope of the hot air balloon. The pilot of the unregistered paraglider reported that he was focused on taking photographs of another hot air balloon at the time and was not aware that he had maneuvered so close to the accident hot air balloon. The paraglider pilot attempted an evasive maneuver to avoid the hot air balloon; however, the paraglider flew into the side of the envelope, penetrating it. As the balloon and paraglider descended, they remained attached until ground impact.

NTSB Probable Cause

The paraglider pilot's failure to see and avoid the hot air balloon, which resulted in a midair collision.

Full Narrative

On October 16, 2010, at 0737 mountain standard time, N807PW, a Lindstrand 90A balloon, sustained substantial damage following a midair collision with a single-seat unregistered powered paraglider near Cottonwood Airport, Cottonwood, Arizona. The pilot was operating the hot air balloon under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The balloon pilot sustained minor injuries and his two passengers sustained serious injuries. The pilot of the paraglider sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. Both aircraft departed from Cottonwood Airport. According to the balloon pilot, he was on a local area flight during Airport Appreciation Day. There were multiple hot air balloons flying in the area at the time. He saw the paraglider pilot maneuvering close to the balloon envelope. The balloon pilot waived his arms and shouted at the paraglider pilot that he was too close; however, the paraglider approached the balloon and descended. The paraglider flew into the side of the envelope, penetrating it. As the balloon and paraglider descended, they remained attached; the balloon pilot tried to decrease the rate of descent as much as possible. During the descent, the balloon pilot provided an emergency briefing to his passengers, and directed one of the passengers to transmit a distress call. At 100 feet, the pilot turned off the pilot lights and closed the fuel tank valves. The basket then impacted the top of a fence and came to rest in an asphalt parking lot. Following the accident, the paraglider pilot told the balloon pilot that he was taking photographs. According to the Cottonwood Police Department report, the paraglider pilot was interviewed at a medical center by a deputy. The paraglider pilot reported that he and his son had departed from cottonwood in their respective paragliders. The pilot was going to take pictures of a friend who was in one of the hot air balloons flying in the area. As he approached the hot air balloon that his friend was in, he noted another hot air balloon below him about 200 to 300 feet; this other balloon was the one that he eventually collided with. He took a picture of his friend, and saw the accident hot air balloon was 30 feet below and 50 feet in front of him. The paraglider pilot attempted to perform an evasive maneuver, but the paraglider impacted the envelope of the balloon.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:37 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLindstrand Balloons 90A
Tail NumberN807PW
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageSubstantial
OperatorEric Wadleigh
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Seats0

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (3 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious3
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 57 · None · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 36 C
Altimeter30.20 inHg
Observation Time14:29
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data