# NTSB CEN11CA517: Kubicek BB85, N1545T, Hartsel, CO, July 27, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 27, 2011, 07:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Hartsel, CO
- Coordinates: 39.048889, -105.67778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0489&lon=-105.6778&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, 10 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81249
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA517
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81249/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81249
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA517

## Probable cause

The pilot's encounter with high wind which resulted in a hard landing and passenger injury.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB85Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1370509), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)
- [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB85Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=1370509), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB85Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1370509), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB85Z, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1370509), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Following a sightseeing flight, the pilot was attempting to land a hot air balloon when the wind velocity increased. On the initial touchdown, the balloon bounced, and traveled about 30 feet before experiencing a hard landing. Of the ten passengers on board, one sustained a broken leg. There was no damage to the balloon. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

Following a sightseeing flight, the pilot was attempting to land a hot air balloon. After the initial touchdown, the wind velocity increased resulting in the balloon becoming airborne again. The balloon traveled about 30 feet before experiencing a hard landing. Of the ten passengers on board, one sustained a broken leg. There was no damage to the balloon. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1545T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1545T-2017-12-12), registration cancelled 2017-12-12, S/N 827, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KUBICEK BB85 (Z)
- Registry model: [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB85Z](https://openairdocs.org/model/balony-kubicek-spol-sro-bb85z) (registry code 1370509) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 827
- Airframe hours: 36
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Colorado Rocky Ballooning LLC
- Registered owner: Colorado Rocky Ballooning LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 2011
- Departed: Harstel, CO
- Destination: Harstel, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review August 8, 2010; flight hours: 2,562 total, 30 in this make and model, 2,562 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.45 inHg

## 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 20110727014189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110727014189A), Jul 27, 2011: Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB85Z, Hartsel, CO, No damage. On 07/27/2011 at 0745 MDT, N1545T, a Balony kubicel BB85Z balloon, made a hard landing in a field near Hartsel Colorado. There were 11 persons on board, one…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81249. 499 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 499 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352079&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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