# NTSB CEN10CA543: Head Balloons AX8-88, N2064W, Ft. Wayne, IN, September 12, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 12, 2010, 19:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Ft. Wayne, IN - Coordinates: 41.197498, -84.845275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1975&lon=-84.8453&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-SBN-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77314 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA543 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77314/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77314 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA543 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX8-88, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=4280200), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Head Balloons AX8-88, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=4280200), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX8-88, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4280200), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The balloon was airborne for approximately 30 minutes prior to the pilot setting up for a landing in a grassy area alongside a road. The pilot reported that the ground crew informed him that there was a ditch running parallel to the side of the road. The balloon touched down in a bean field, about 20 feet from the grass area, and the ground crew grabbed the basket as it moved into the grass. The ground crew was not able to stop the basket and it traveled into the 10-foot deep ditch. The balloon came to rest at the bottom of the ditch with the ground crew still hanging on. One of the two passengers on board suffered a fractured leg. The injured passenger stated that she thought that either the other passenger or the pilot hit her leg during the landing. There was no damage to the balloon envelope or basket. ## Factual narrative The balloon was airborne for approximately 30 minutes prior to the pilot setting up for a landing in a grassy area alongside a road. The pilot reported the ground crew informed him that there was a ditch running parallel to the side of the road. However, the pilot reported he did not know the depth of the ditch. The local winds were 6 to 7 miles per hour at the time of the landing. The pilot reported he briefed the passengers for the landing. The balloon touched down in a bean field, about 20 feet from the grass area, and the ground crew grabbed the basket as it moved into the grass. The ground crew was not able to stop the basket and it traveled into the 10-foot deep ditch. The balloon came to rest at the bottom of the ditch with the ground crew still hanging on. One of the two passengers on board suffered a fractured leg. The injured passenger stated that she thought that either the other passenger or the pilot hit her leg during the landing. There was no damage to the balloon envelope or basket. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2064W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2064W), registered now, S/N 340 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HEAD BALLOONS INC AX8-88 - Registry model: [Head Balloons AX8-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/head-balloons-ax8-88) (registry code 4280200) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 340 - Airframe hours: 206 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Windswept Aeronauts Inc - Registered owner: Windswept Aeronauts Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 22, 2010 - Departed: Ft. Wayne, IN - Destination: Ft. Wayne, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review July 7, 2010; flight hours: 615 total, 615 in this make and model, 607 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: FWA, 16 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 20100912047089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100912047089A), Sep 12, 2010: Head Balloo AX8-88, Fort Wayne, IN, No damage. On September 12, 2010, at approximately 0745 local time a hot air balloon registered to windswept aeronauts, inc. of Fort Wayne Indiana launched from riverside… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77314. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336889&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.