# NTSB CEN09CA496: Lindstrand Balloons 240A, N494LB, Albuquerque, NM, August 4, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 4, 2009, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.037223, -106.605552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0372&lon=-106.6056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74455 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA496 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74455/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74455 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA496 ## Probable cause A run-on landing of the balloon causing the basket to tip over, resulting in a passenger's injury. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 240A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md?model=5180006), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 240A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=5180006), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Lindstrand Balloons 240A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=5180006), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis After a sight-seeing flight, the pilot located an area to land the balloon, and briefed the passengers for the landing. The pilot stated that he "landed in soft sand ... going approximately 10 miles-per-hour." The basket slid for approximately 15 feet before tipping over, coming to rest on its side. As the pilot began to unload the passengers, one of passengers complained of pain in her right arm/shoulder area. The passenger was transported to the hospital, and later was determined that she had suffered a broken arm. ## Factual narrative After a sight-seeing flight, the pilot located an area to land the balloon, and briefed the passengers for the landing. The pilot stated that he "landed in soft sand ... going approximately 10 miles-per-hour." The basket slid for approximately 15 feet before tipping over, coming to rest on its side. As the pilot began to unload the passengers, one of passengers complained of pain in her right arm/shoulder area. The passenger was transported to the hospital, and later was determined that she had suffered a broken arm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N494LB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N494LB), registered now, S/N 5377, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LINDSTRAND BALLOONS 240A - Registry model: [Lindstrand Balloons 240A](https://openairdocs.org/model/lindstrand-balloons-240a) (registry code 5180006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5377 - Airframe hours: 305 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Rainbow Ryders Inc - Registered owner: Rainbow Ryders Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 2, 2009 - Departed: Albuquerque, NM - Destination: Albuquerque, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial; last flight review August 24, 2007; flight hours: 2,340 total, 300 in this make and model, 2,340 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20090804012599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090804012599A), Aug 4, 2009: Lbl 240ALBL, Albuquerque, NM, No damage. (-23) On August 4, 2009 at 0805 MDT, N494LB, a lindstrom A240 hot air balloon, laned near I-40 and 98th st. in Albuquerque NM. After the landing, one passenger… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74455. 552 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 552 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.