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NTSB Report

June 17, 2012 · National Ballooning 858 · N9005E

Pierce, NE

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 17, 2012
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 2 uninjured
Location
Pierce, NE
Aircraft
National Ballooning 858
Tail Number
N9005E
Operator
Wayne a Mohring
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
CEN12CA393

The pilot was participating with about eight other balloons in an early morning mass ascension. After about 45 minutes of flight, the pilot observed that the wind had increased and determined that a “high-wind landing” would be necessary. His two passengers had not experienced a balloon flight before, and the pilot instructed them that they should hold on tightly and face forward, with their feet pointed straight ahead and their knees bent to absorb the shock of the landing. He also advised them that the basket would likely tip over during the landing. The balloon initially touched down hard in a flat, harvested field, then bounced and touched down a second time. The pilot reported his ground speed was about 13 to 14 mph. During the second touchdown the basket tipped over and was dragged about 100 feet, coming to rest on its side in an adjacent cornfield. The pilot deflated the balloon envelope and the three occupants began to climb out of the basket. The 70-year old passenger was seriously injured during the landing. The balloon was not damaged. The pilot said that he thought the passenger’s injury occurred because she did not have her feet pointed straight ahead during the landing.

NTSB Probable Cause

The balloon pilot’s encounter with increased wind during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and a passenger’s injury.

Full Narrative

The pilot was participating with about eight other balloons in an early morning mass ascension. After a flight of about 45 minutes, while approaching to land, the pilot observed that the wind had increased and he determined that a “high-wind landing” would be necessary. His two passengers had not been involved in a balloon flight before and he instructed both of them how they should hold on tightly, and that they should face forward with their feet pointed straight ahead with their knees bent to absorb the shock of the landing. He also advised them that the basket would likely tip over on its side during the landing. The pilot touched down onto a flat harvested alfalfa field, bounced, and touched down a second time. The pilot reported his ground speed was then about 13 to 14 miles per hour. During the second touchdown the basket tipped over and was dragged about 100 feet coming to rest on its side in an adjacent cornfield. The pilot deflated the balloon envelope and the three occupants began to climb out of the basket. A 70-year old passenger reported pain in her ankle and was transported to the hospital for treatment of a broken ankle. The balloon was not damaged. The pilot said he thought the reason for the passenger’s injury was probably because the passenger did not have her feet pointed straight ahead during one or more of the touchdown events.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:15 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftNational Ballooning 858
Tail NumberN9005E
Aircraft CategoryBall
OperatorWayne a Mohring
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 2 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total3
Crew 1Age 51 · None · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDawn
WindCalm
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 59
Altimeter29.87 inHg
Observation Time11:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data