20160513004979A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cameron Balloons US Z-150 · Edmond, OK · May 13, 2016

Date: May 13, 2016 · 07:50 local
Place: Edmond, OK
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6952D
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN16LA183
Reported as: Cameron Balloons US Z-150
Reported engine: NONE NONE
People aboard: 6
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 546 total133 in this make and model17 in the last 90 days

N6952DRegistered now · Cameron Balloons US Z-150S/N 6690 · Built 2012 Airframe modelCameron Balloons US Z-150 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.

Balloon was on steep descent rate when approaching to land. As aircraft hit the ground, pilot and one passenger were ejected. Pilot was holding emergency relief valve as aircraft started to ascend. Aircraft continued flight for approximately 300 yards before descending into a tree and causing substantial damage to envelope. Basket struck ground at this point and remaining passengers exited the aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

BALLOON WAS ON STEEP DESCENT RATE WHEN APPROACHING TO LAND. AS AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND, PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED. PILOT WAS HOLDING EMERGENCY RELIEF VALVE AS AIRCRAFT STARTED TO ASCEND. AIRCRAFT CONTINUED FLIGHT FOR APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS BEFORE DESCENDING INTO A TREE AND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO ENVELOPE. BASKET STRUCK GROUND AT THIS POINT AND REMAINING PASSENGERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT.

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 CEN16LA183Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEdmond, OKThe pilot’s failure to control the balloon’s descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in a hard landing.May 13, 2016 · Substantial damage