# Accident 20060611010979A: Head AX888HEAD, Gretna, NE, June 11, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 11, 2006, 19:35 local time
- Place: Gretna, NE
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.1408° N, 96.2436° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1408&lon=-96.2436&mi=10
- Aircraft: N83030, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83030) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Head Balloons AX8-88 (registry code 4280200, https://openairdocs.org/model/head-balloons-ax8-88) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HEAD AX888HEAD
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 132 total, 100 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI06CA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA160) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060611010979A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT LANDED IN AN ULTRALIGHT FIELD. WHEN THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN THE BALLOON WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 8 KNOTS, WHICH THE PILOT VERIFIED WITH HIS GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS). DUE TO THIS GROUNDSPEED, THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A HIGH WIND LANDING. HE STABILIZED THE DESCENT AT FOUR FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND THEN EXTINGUISHED THE PILOT LIGHT AND OPENED THE DEFLATION PORT TO LAND. WHEN THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN THE GONDOLA DRUG A LITTLE WAY, THEN TIPPED OVER. AS THE GONDOLA TIPPED OVER, THE PILOT'S 70 YEAR OLD MOTHER LOST HER GRIP AND BROKE HER ARM WHEN SHE PINCHED IT BETWEEN THE SIDE OF THE GONDOLA AND THE GROUND. THE OTHER PASSENGER HAD A SMALL CUT ON ONE HAND AND THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED. THE LANDING WAS NOT HARD AND WAS NORMAL. THE WIND HAD PICKED UP TO 10 KNOTS BEFORE LANDING WHICH IS NOT EXTRAORDINARY FOR A BALLOON. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PILOT'S ACTIONS OR LACK OF ACTIONS DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI06CA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA160), Jun 12, 2006: Head Balloons AX8-88 (N83030), Gretna, NE, no damage. Probable cause: A run-on landing encountered by the pilot of the balloon due to the prevailing winds. The unfavorable winds were a contributing factor.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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