# NTSB CEN10CA017: Cameron Z77, N4502V, Albuquerque, NM, October 8, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 8, 2009, 08:18 local (14:18 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.1375, -106.556114 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1375&lon=-106.5561&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Albuquerque FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74910
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74910/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74910
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA017

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon during the approach and landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US Z-77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1880302), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US Z-77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1880302), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US Z-77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1880302), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US Z-77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1880302), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US Z-77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1880302), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US Z-77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1880302), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US Z-77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=1880302), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After a morning balloon flight the pilot was making an approach to landing on a golf course. During a descent to treetop level the pilot reported the winds varied from 8 to 17 miles per hour. After descending below the tops of the trees the pilot reported a gust of 17 miles per hour with a “significant wind shift,” which moved the balloon laterally toward a line of trees. Just before touchdown the pilot said that she “pulled the top” to avoid hitting the trees and “we landed quickly dragging about 5 feet”. As the envelope deflated it snagged a tree causing minor damage to the balloon. The pilot sustained a fractured ankle and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The other occupant was not injured.

## Factual narrative

After a morning balloon flight the pilot was making an approach to landing on a golf course. During a descent to tree top level the pilot reported the winds varied from 8 to 17 miles per hour. After descending below the tops of the trees the pilot reported a gust of 17 miles per hour with a “significant wind shift” which moved the balloon laterally toward a line of trees. Just before touchdown the pilot said she “pulled the top” to avoid hitting the trees and “we landed quickly dragging about 5 feet”. As the envelope deflated it snagged a tree causing minor damage to the balloon. The pilot sustained a fractured ankle and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The other occupant was not injured.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4502V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4502V), registered now, S/N 6331, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CAMERON Z77
- Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US Z-77](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-z-77) (registry code 1880302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 6331
- Airframe hours: 639
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Air race/show, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 2009, 39 hours before
- Departed: Rio Rancho, NM
- Destination: Albuquerque, NM
- Airport: KABQ, Albuquerque Intl Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; commercial; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 11, 2009; flight hours: 387 total, 304 in this make and model, 367 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: KABQ, 6 nm away

## 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 20091008019479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091008019479A), Oct 8, 2009: Camero Z77, Albuquerque, NM, Minor damage. On October 8, 2009, at 0915 MDT a cameron Z-77 hot air balloon, N4502V, registered to donna jean carlton-vish, was involved in a hard landing at arroyo del oso…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 23, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74910. 855 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 855 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321486&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.

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