# Incident 20220821014879I: Lindstrand Balloons 77A, Centralia, IL, August 21, 2022

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 21, 2022, 18:30 local time
- Place: Centralia, IL
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.5221° N, 89.1235° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Centralia, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5221&lon=-89.1235&mi=10
- Aircraft: N755LB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N755LB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Lindstrand Balloons 77A (registry code 5180001, https://openairdocs.org/model/lindstrand-balloons-77a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LINDSTRAND BALLOONS 77A
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220821014879I

## Narrative

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

PD INVESTIGATION SAS ACTIVITY: GL19202202905

(1) DESCRIPTION:

THE PILOT STATED, WHILE LANDING AT THE CASTLE RIDGE COMPLEX (A CLOSED GOLF COURSE) IN CENTRALIAM ILLINOIS, HOT AIR BALLOON ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPECTED WINDSHEAR ON THE GROUND AND THE BALLOON ENVELOPE WAS BLOWN INTO A DEAD TREE WHILE INFLATED. THE PILOT STATED THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE BALLOON EVVELOPE (FABRIC PORTION), NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OCCURRED. THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR TWO PASSENGERS.

(2) CAUSAL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

A RAPID WIND GUST DIVERTED THE BALLOON'S TRACK TO THE RIGHT CAUSING IMPACT WITH A TREE.

(3) "ATC" AND RATIONAL IF ATC ACTIONS CONTRIBUTED TO THE EVENT:

NONE.

(4) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION:

EVENT NOT BASED ON A SYSTEMATIC ERROR. THE PILOT COULD NOT OVERCOME THE WIND GUST. HOT AIR BALLOONS ARE UNSTEERABLE AFTER LANDING.

(5) ACTIONS TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE TRANSGRESSION:

NONE.

(6) OTHER COMMENTS:

NONE.

(7) INVESTIGATION:

THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE BALLOON WAS BLOWN INTO THE DEAD TREE AFTER LANDING CAUSING MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE BALLOON'S FABRIC ENVELOPE. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED DURING THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT'S RECOVERY OF THE BALLOON.

(8) ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS (RCA):

THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO CONTROL THE BALLOON AFTER LADNING. HOT AIR BALLOONS ARE SUBJECT TO THE WINDS WITH LITTLE TO NO PILOT CONTROLLABILITY.

(9) CORRECTIVE ACTION:

NO CORRECTIVE ACTION NECESSARY. THE PILOT PERFORMED AS EXPECTED.

(10) COMMENTS:

NO REGUALTORY VIOLATIONS FOUND. ASI RECOMMENDS NO FURTHER ACTION.

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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