# Accident 20220111002779A: Lindstrand Balloons 60X, Louisville, KY, January 11, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 11, 2022, 17:10 local time
- Place: Louisville, KY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Location: 38.2125° N, 85.5299° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2125&lon=-85.5299&mi=10
- Aircraft: N377LX, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N377LX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Lindstrand Balloons 60X (registry code 5180017, https://openairdocs.org/model/lindstrand-balloons-60x) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LINDSTRAND BALLOONS 60X
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 40 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA129) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220111002779A

## Narrative

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

A STUDENT PILOT-BALLOON WAS TAKING A PRIVATE PILOT-BALLOON CHECK RIDE WITH A BALLOON DPE.  THE STUDENT PILOT INITIATED A DESCENT. THE BALLOON APPARENTLY DESCENDED AT A FASTER RATE THAN EXPECTED AND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL. THE ACCOMPANYING DPE ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE BALLOON. DURING THE EXCHANGE THE BALLOON STRUCK AND DAMAGED A METAL LIGHT POLE AND POSSIBLY THE GROUND BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE AGAIN UNDER THE DPE'S CONTROL AND LANDED SAFELY IN A FIELD 30 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE IN A FIELD NEAR THE DPE'S RESIDENCE.

## 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 ERA22LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA129), Jan 11, 2022: Lindstrand Balloons 60X (N377LX), Louisville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot applicant’s delayed reaction to the balloon's increased rate of descent, which resulted in impact with a light pole.

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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