# NTSB CEN13CA018: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A, N230LB, Albuquerque, NM, October 10, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 10, 2012, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.075279, -106.568885 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0753&lon=-106.5689&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85385
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85385/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85385
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA018

## Probable cause

The passenger’s inadequate brace position for the balloon landing, which resulted in a serious injury.

## Findings

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

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=5190006), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5190006), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the balloon stated that at the conclusion of the local flight, he was making an approach for landing near a field. At 15 feet above the ground, the pilot pulled out the top of the balloon and landed without a bounce. The balloon then dragged across the ground for 20 feet and came to rest. Prior to landing, the passengers were briefed for a possible hard landing. The pilot noticed that one passenger did not assume the proper brace position. That passenger was seriously injured during the landing and the balloon was not damaged.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the balloon stated that at the conclusion of the local flight, he was making an approach for landing near a field. At 15 feet above the ground, the pilot pulled out the top of the balloon and landed without a bounce. The balloon then dragged across the ground for 20 feet and came to rest. Prior to landing, the passengers were briefed for a possible hard landing. The pilot noticed that one passenger did not assume the proper brace position. That passenger was seriously injured during the landing and the balloon was not damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N230LB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N230LB), registered now, S/N 5393, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARBC INC DBA LINDSTRAND 90A
- Registry model: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A](https://openairdocs.org/model/arbc-inc-dba-lindstrand-90a) (registry code 5190006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 5393
- Airframe hours: 120
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James Ireland
- Registered owner: James Ireland
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2012
- Departed: Albuquerque, NM
- Destination: Albuquerque, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 4, 2012; flight hours: 927 total, 462 in this make and model, 915 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 8° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85385. 378 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 378 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379849&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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