# NTSB CEN11CA398: Lindstrand LBL120A, N5595L, Le Center, MN, June 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 16, 2011, 20:50 local (Jun 17, 2011, 01:50 UTC) - Place: Le Center, MN - Coordinates: 44.466667, -93.75 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4667&lon=-93.7500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-MSP-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80805 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA398 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80805/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80805 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA398 ## Probable cause The failure of the passenger to follow the pilot's instructions during landing, which caused the pilot to be ejected from the balloon and sustain serious injuries. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Communication (personnel): following instructions](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 120A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537/cases.md?model=5190008), [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 120A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=5190008), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 120A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=5190008), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the accident occurred as he attempted to land the hot air balloon in a 7-8 knot wind. The pilot stated that he briefed the passengers regarding the landing procedures prior to the landing. The first three landing approaches were aborted due to obstacles. During the fourth approach the pilot shut off the pilot lights for the balloon's burner and instructed the passengers to brace prior to touchdown. The basket touched down and rotated forward, which the pilot expected. He stated he was deflating the envelope when one of the passengers began to stand up and was nearly ejected from the basket as it touched down a second time. The pilot stated he grabbed the passenger's belt to prevent her from falling out of the basket which resulted in him being in an unstable position. With the next bump, the pilot was ejected from the basket. The pilot held onto the deflation line and was drug by the basket, sustaining serious injuries. The ground crew instructed the passengers to pull the "red line" deflation valve allowing the balloon to come to a stop. ## Factual narrative The accident occurred as the pilot attempted to land the balloon in a 7-8 knot wind. The pilot stated that he briefed the passengers regarding the landing procedures prior to the landing. The first three landing approaches were aborted due to obstacles. During the fourth approach the pilot shut off the pilot lights for the burner and instructed the passengers to brace prior to touchdown. The basket touched down and pendulumed forward, which the pilot expected. He stated he was deflating the envelope when one of the passengers began to stand up and was nearly ejected from the basket as it touched down a second time. The pilot stated he grabbed the passenger's belt to prevent her from falling out of the basket which resulted in him being in an unstable position. With the next bump, the pilot stated, he was ejected from the basket. The pilot held onto the deflation line and was drug by the basket, sustaining serious injuries. The ground crew instructed the passengers to pull the "red line" deflation valve allowing the balloon to come to a stop. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5595L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5595L), registered now, S/N 5482, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LINDSTRAND LBL120A (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 120A](https://openairdocs.org/model/arbc-inc-dba-lindstrand-120a) (registry code 5190008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5482 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Edward J. Chapman - Registered owner: Edward J. Chapman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Prior Lake, MN - Destination: New Prague, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; flight engineer, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2010; flight hours: 24,600 total, 5 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 20110616011599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110616011599A), Jun 16, 2011: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 120A, New Prague, MN, No damage. On initial landing / touch down passenger stood up, contrary to preflight and prelanding instructions. Just then the basket arose again pendulumed forward and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80805. 1000 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 504 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350977&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - LeSueur Co. Sheriff's Department Report (item 2, .PDF, 496 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350978&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=LeSueur%20Co.%20Sheriff%27s%20Department%20Report-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.