# Accident 20110618011429A: Head Balloons Inc AX8-88, Summerdale, AL, June 18, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 18, 2011, 08:30 local time
- Place: Summerdale, AL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.4833° N, 88.3000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4833&lon=-88.3000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8190V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8190V-2013-06-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Head Balloons AX8-88 (registry code 4280200, https://openairdocs.org/model/head-balloons-ax8-88) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HEAD BALLOONS INC AX8-88
- Reported engine: N/A N/A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 139 total, 139 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11CA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA353) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110618011429A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE WAS APPROACHING A FIELD TO LAND, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED HIS BASKET TO GET CAUGHT IN THE TOPS OF SOME TREES. AS HE BECAME CAUGHT IN THE TREES, HE STATED THAT A BRANCH FROM ONE OF THE TREES SNAGGED THE DEFLATION LINE OF THE BALLOON CAUSING THE ENVELOPE TO LOSE AIR AND DESCEND. HE THEN STATED THE SKIRT OF THE ENVELOPE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE PILOT MANAGED TO EXIT OUT OF THE BASKET ALONG WITH THE PASSENGER. THEY BOTH EXITED THE BASKET AFTER IT HAD REACHED THE GROUND. BOTH PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED.

## 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 ERA11CA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA353), Jun 18, 2011: Head Balloons AX8-88 (N8190V), Summerdale, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The balloon pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude/clearance from a tree line during the landing approach.

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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