# Incident 20210912015599I: Sproul Keith A 83K-16, Ryegate, VT, September 12, 2021

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 2021, 09:27 local time
- Place: Ryegate, VT
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.1879° N, 72.1510° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1879&lon=-72.1510&mi=10
- Aircraft: N83KX, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83KX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sproul Keith A 83K-16 (registry code 05638MQ, https://openairdocs.org/model/sproul-keith-a-83k-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SPROUL KEITH A 83K-16
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,250 total, 141 in this make and model, 53 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA366) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210912015599I

## Narrative

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

THE INVOLVED BALLOON WAS REPORTED TO BE ONE OF THE 2 FREE BALLOONS THAT DEPARTED POST MILLS AIRPORT IN THETFORD, VERMONT DURING THE EXPERIMENTAL BALLOON AND AIRSHIP ASSOCIATION MEET ON THE DAY OF THE CRASH. 20 OF THE 22 BALLOONS AT THE MEET CANCELLED THE EXCURSION DUE TO REPORTED STRONG WINDS AND LOW-LEVEL WIND SHEAR ALOFT.

THIS BALLOON EMPLOYED A ?CHARIOT-STYLE? 2-PASSENGER BENCH SEAT KNOWN AS A "CHAIR". THE FLIGHT ITSELF WAS REPORTED TO BE UNEVENTFUL ALBEIT WITH STRONG WINDS AND THE PILOT, AIRMAN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, STATED THAT HE WAS PLANNING TO LAND IN A VALLEY TO ESCAPE THE RELATIVELY STRONG WINDS AT HIS ALTITUDE.

AIRMAN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE DECIDED TO LAND IN A FIELD IN A VALLEY NEAR RYEGATE, VERMONT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE FELT HIS SPEED WAS TOO HIGH WHILE APPROACHING THE FIELD. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ATTEMPTED TO ?BRUSH? THE TOPS OF SOME TREES TO SLOW DOWN. WHILE SO DOING, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN CHANGE IN WIND VECTOR. THE CHAIR STRUCK A HIGHER TREE TIPPING SPROUL OUT OF THE CHAIR AND LEAVING A FIRST-FLIGHT PASSENGER ALONE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT BOTH HE AND THE PASSENGER WERE STRAPPED IN BY 4 POINT SAFETY HARNESSES. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED HE DID NOT KNOW WHY HE WAS NOT RESTRAINED BY THE HARNESS.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS ABLE TO HANG ON TO THE CHAIR AND SHOUT INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PASSENGER. HOWEVER, THE BALLOON CONTINUED TO LOSE HEIGHT AND CRASHED THROUGH A TREE EVENTUALLY COMING TO THE GROUND WHERE BOTH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND THE PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EVACUATE. NEITHER REPORTED ANY INJURIES TO EMT PERSONNEL AND VERMONT STATE POLICE WHO ARRIVED QUICKLY.

WITNESSES CORROBORATED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ACCOUNT OF THE EVENT.

## 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 ERA21LA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA366), Sep 12, 2021: Sproul Keith A 83K-16 (N83KX), Ryegate, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to secure himself to the balloon seat which resulted in a loss of control of the balloon.

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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