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September 17, 2011 · Balloon Works Firefly 8 · N3181A

Mingo, IA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 17, 2011
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 2 uninjured
Location
Mingo, IA
Aircraft
Balloon Works Firefly 8
Tail Number
N3181A
Operator
Diamondjake Ballooning Dba
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
CEN11CA654

During a balloon flight, the pilot advised the two passengers to face in the direction of travel and to bend their knees when they land. The pilot also indicated to the passengers that momentum would propel the basket occupants forward during the landing. The wind at the time of landing reportedly gave the balloon a 9 mph groundspeed. The pilot executed a touchdown into a ditch alongside a highway after making a landing approach over a soybean field. The basket subsequently laid over on its side. One passenger sustained a serious ankle injury during the hard landing. The pilot and the other passenger were not injured and the balloon was not damaged. According to the pilot, the injured passenger indicated that her knees were bent before landing. He stated that he would instruct future passengers to point their toes in the direction of travel and add a question to his passenger questionnaire to inquire if a passenger had a medical condition that would cause the passenger to have weak bones.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon’s descent during the landing, which resulted in the balloon having a hard landing in a ditch and causing a passenger to be seriously injured.

Full Narrative

During a balloon flight, the pilot advised the two passengers to face in the direction of travel and to bend their knees when they land. The wind at the time of landing reportedly gave the balloon a nine mph groundspeed. The pilot also indicated to the passengers that momentum would propel the basket occupants forward during the landing. The pilot executed a touch down into a ditch alongside a highway after making a landing approach over a soybean field. The basket subsequently laid over on its side. One passenger sustained a serious ankle injury during the hard landing. The pilot and the other passenger were not injured and the balloon was not damaged. According to the pilot, the injured passenger indicated that her knees were bent before landing. The pilot stated that he would instruct future passengers to point their toes in the direction of travel and add a question to his passenger questionnaire to inquire if a passenger had a medical condition that would cause the passenger to have weak bones.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:30 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBalloon Works Firefly 8
Tail NumberN3181A
Aircraft CategoryBall
OperatorDiamondjake Ballooning Dba
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Seats0

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 2 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total3
Crew 1Age 52 · None · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind130° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 2900 ft
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 45 C
Altimeter30.22 inHg
Observation Time23:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data