# NTSB BFO87DID02: Eagle Balloons C-7, N60765, Montvale, VA, March 22, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: March 22, 1987, 09:05 local (14:05 UTC)
- Place: Montvale, VA
- Coordinates: 37.430671, -79.689933 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4307&lon=-79.6899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11265
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO87DID02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11265/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO87DID02

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, landing
  - terrain condition - downhill (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - climb - uncontrolled (cause)

## Analysis

THE BALLOON PLT SELECTED A DOWNSLOPING FIELD WITH POWERLINES AT THE APCH END AND WOODS AT THE UPWIND END IN WHICH TO LAND. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE BASKET TIPPED OVER AND THE PLT WAS PULLED FROM THE BASKET BY HIS GRIP ON THE CROWN VALVE LINE. THE BALLOON BEGAN TO ASCEND WITH TWO PASSENGERS IN THE BASKET. THE TWO PASSENGERS JUMPED TO THE GROUND FROM AN ALT ALT 5-10 FT AGL. ONE PASSENGER SUFFERED A FRACTURED PELVIC BONE DURING THE FALL. THE BALLOON THEN TRAVELED APRX 3/4 OF A MILE BEFORE CONTACTING TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N60765](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60765-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N E83746, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Eagle Balloons C-7
- Registry model: [Eagle Balloons AX7](https://openairdocs.org/model/eagle-balloons-ax7) (registry code 3240107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: E83746
- Airframe hours: 90
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Above The Rest, Inc.
- Registered owner: Above The Rest Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 6, 1986, 7 hours before
- Departed: FINCASTLE, VA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; flight hours: 101 total, 101 in this make and model, 77 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 31.00 inHg
- Observed at: ROA

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870322007149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870322007149A), Mar 22, 1987: Eagleb AX7, Montvale, VA, Minor damage. The balloon tipped during landing and ejected passengers. Pilot attempted landing on the lee side of a ridge.

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.

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