20140725011579A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Cameron Balloons US A-180 · Taos, NM · July 25, 2014

Date: July 25, 2014 · 08:15 local
Place: Taos, NM
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N65059
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN14LA397
Reported as: Cameron Balloons US A-180
Reported engine: NONE NONE
People aboard: 9
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,400 total700 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days

N65059Registration cancelled Dec 6, 2018 · Cameron Balloons US A-180S/N 6624 · Built 2011 Airframe modelCameron Balloons US A-180 Engine modelNONENone

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

N65059, a Cameron A-180, departed near the Taos gorge with 8 passengers and a PIC. 45 minutes into the flight, in preparation for landing, the PIC switched propane tanks and the pilot light went out. PIC could not re-light the pilot light. At approximately 150 ft AGL, he prepared the passengers and the balloon for a hard landing. N65059 hit hard, skipped 30 feet and came to rest. PIC and 6 passengers received no injuries. 2 passengers received broken bones. The balloon gondola and envelope received no damage.

As the FAA filed it

N65059, A CAMERON A-180, DEPARTED NEAR THE TAOS GORGE WITH 8 PASSENGERS AND A PIC. 45 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING, THE PIC SWITCHED PROPANE TANKS AND THE PILOT LIGHT WENT OUT. PIC COULD NOT RE-LIGHT THE PILOT LIGHT. AT APPROXIMATELY 150 FT AGL, HE PREPARED THE PASSENGERS AND THE BALLOON FOR A HARD LANDING. N65059 HIT HARD, SKIPPED 30 FEET AND CAME TO REST. PIC AND 6 PASSENGERS RECEIVED NO INJURIES. 2 PASSENGERS RECEIVED BROKEN BONES. THE BALLOON GONDOLA AND ENVELOPE RECEIVED NO DAMAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN14LA397Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportQuesta, NMThe hard landing after both burner pilot lights extinguished during the landing approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to relight the burner pilot lights.Jul 25, 2014 · No damage