# Accident 20210528010959A: Lindstrand Balloons 90A, Dayton, NV, May 28, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 28, 2021, 08:35 local time
- Place: Dayton, NV
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.2962° N, 119.5579° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2962&lon=-119.5579&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1535G, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1535G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Lindstrand Balloons 90A (registry code 5180005, https://openairdocs.org/model/lindstrand-balloons-90a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LINDSTRAND BALLOONS 90A
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 640 total, 616 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA225) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210528010959A

## Narrative

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

AS THE PILOT WAS COMING IN FOR A LANDING, HER BALLOON WAS CAUGHT BY A THERMAL AND CLIMBED IN THE THERMAL VORTEX.  COMING OUT THE TOP OF THE THERMAL, THE BALLOON ENTERED A DOWNDRAFT.

THE PILOT ENGAGED BOTH OF THE BALLOON'S BURNERS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REDUCE THE RATE OF DESCENT.

THE PILOT DIRECTED HER PASSENGERS TO BRACE FOR IMPACT.  THE BASKET IMPACTED THE GROUND AND TIPPED, AND THE PILOT FELL OUT OF THE BASKET.

THE PILOT GRABBED AND PULLED THE CROWN LINE TO SPILL THE HOT AIR OUT OF THE ENVELOPE OF THE BALLOON, AND AS SHE WAS DOING THAT, THE THERMAL CAUGHT THE BALLOON AGAIN, CAUSING THE BALLOON TO TAKE OFF.

THE PILOT WAS LOSING HER GRIP ON THE CROWN LINE AS THE BALLOON WAS CLIMBING, SO DIRECTED HER PASSENGERS TO PULL ON THE CROWN LINE TO EFFECT ANOTHER LANDING.  THE PILOT LOST HER GRIP AT APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AND THEN FELL TO THE GROUND.

THE PASSENGERS CONTINUED TO PULL ON THE CROWN LINE AND THE BALLOON LANDED AND DEFLATED.

## 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 WPR21LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA225), May 28, 2021: Lindstrand Balloons 90A (N1535G), Dayton, NV, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon due to an unexpected high surface wind and downdraft, which resulted in a hard landing.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.