# Accident 20230714010319A: Adams Balloons LLC A-B, Lafayette, CO, July 14, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 14, 2023, 06:18 local time
- Place: Lafayette, CO
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.9756° N, 105.0788° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9756&lon=-105.0788&mi=10
- Aircraft: N895FA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N895FA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Adams Balloons A-B (registry code 0050325, https://openairdocs.org/model/adams-balloons-a-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ADAMS BALLOONS LLC A-B
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 5
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 618 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA305) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230714010319A

## Narrative

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

PILOT RECEIVED A GROUP WEATHER BRIEFING THAT WAS OBTAINED FROM THE NWS FOR THE BALLOON LAUNCH. WINDS WERE PREDICTED TO PICK UP AND CHANGE DIRECTION WITHIN TWO HOURS. SEVERAL BALLOONS FILLED UP AND 5 BALLOONS LAUNCHED. INCIDENT BALLOON WAS THE FIFTH BALLOON TO LAUNCH. AFTER THE BALLOON WAS AIRBORNE A STRONG ENE WIND ENTERED THE AREA AND THE BALLOON ACCELERATED TO 27 MPH. THE PILOT BEGAN TO SEARCH FOR A SUITABLE LANDING AREA AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT AREAS SELECTED AN AREA LARGE ENOUGH FOR A HIGH WIND LANDING. THE PILOT DESCENDED AND THE BASKET STRUCK THE GROUND, ROTATING TO ITS SIDE. ONE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE BASKET. THE BALLOON AND BASKET ASCENDED DUE TO THE DECREASED WEIGHT. THE PILOT RELEASED THE TOP VENT AND THE BALLOON DESCENDED AGAIN STRIKING THE GROUND. THE BASKET WAS DRAGGED APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AND CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE. ALL PASSENGERS AND CREW WERE INJURED. THE SERIOUSLY INJURED PASSENGER WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 3 WEEKS.

## 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 CEN23LA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA305), Jul 14, 2023: Adams Balloon AB (N895FA), Lafayette, CO, no damage. Probable cause: An inadvertent hard landing in high wind conditions resulting in serious injury of two passengers. Contributing to the accident was the increase in prevailing winds prior to the forecast.

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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