# NTSB CEN12CA511: Aerostar International S81A, N5316Q, Colorado Springs, CO, August 2, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 2, 2012, 07:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Colorado Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.799999, -104.650001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8000&lon=-104.6500&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, 11 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 84559 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA511 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84559/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84559 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA511 ## Probable cause The pilot's encounter with an unexpected shift of wind direction and velocity, 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](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar International S81A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7487907), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Aerostar International S81A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=7487907), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Aerostar International S81A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7487907), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar International S81A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7487907), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis At the conclusion of a hot air balloon sightseeing flight, the pilot initiated an approach to a standard company landing field. During the approach, the wind unexpectedly shifted from 330 degrees at 8 knots to 110 degrees at up to 18 knots. As the easterly winds decreased to about 12 knots, the pilot elected to continue the approach into an unplanned landing area and told the passengers to prepare for a high-wind landing by bending their knees and holding on to the rope handles tightly. According to the pilot, the balloon landed hard, traveling about 12 knots groundspeed in an open area with uneven terrain. One of the 11 passengers sustained a fractured ankle. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was operating a sightseeing hot air balloon flight with eleven passengers. According to pilot statement, the approach was flown to a standard company landing field. During approach to landing, winds unexpectedly shifted from 330 degrees at eight knots to 110 degrees at speeds up to 18 knots. As the easterly winds decreased to approximately 12 knots, the pilot elected to continue the approach into an unplanned landing area and informed the passengers to prepare for a high wind landing by bending their knees and holding on to the rope handles tightly. According to the pilot, the hard landing occurred at approximately 12 knots groundspeed, in an open area with uneven terrain. Of the eleven passengers on board, one suffered a fractured ankle. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5316Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5316Q-2021-11-06), registration cancelled 2021-11-06, S/N S81A-3014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC S81A - Registry model: [Aerostar International S81A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-s81a) (registry code 7487907) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: S81A-3014 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Marketing Services Inc Of Pueblo, doing business as Adventure Out West - Registered owner: Marketing Services Inc Of Pueblo - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Colorado Springs, CO - Destination: Colorado Springs, CO - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; last flight review March 18, 2012; flight hours: 1,922 total, 830 in this make and model, 1,873 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: kcos, 5 nm away ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84559. 896 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 896 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375833&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.