# NTSB CEN15CA340: Thunder & Colt AX8 105S2, N787TC, Albuquerque, NM, August 2, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 2, 2015, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.20111, -106.677223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2011&lon=-106.6772&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 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91718 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA340 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91718/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91718 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA340 ## Probable cause The pilot did not properly brace herself during the landing, which resulted in a broken ankle and leg. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thunder & Colt Airborne Amer AX8 105S2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md?model=2301218), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/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: [Thunder & Colt Airborne Amer AX8 105S2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2301218), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the balloon flight was normal with light and variable wind conditions. The pilot stated she informed the passenger that the basket may "hop" a couple of times during the landing and told him to brace himself. When the balloon basket touched the ground, the pilot's foot became wedged between the sidewall of the basket and one of the fuel tanks. The pilot lost her balance, her body shifted, and she felt her ankle fracture. She told the passenger to continue pulling the deflation line. The envelope deflated quickly and the basket laid down onto its side. There was no damage to the envelope or basket. The pilot suffered a broken ankle and leg. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that the balloon flight was normal with light and variable wind conditions. The pilot stated she informed the passenger that the basket may "hop" a couple of times during the landing and told him to brace himself. When the balloon basket touched the ground, the pilot's foot became wedged between the sidewall of the basket and one of the fuel tanks. The pilot lost her balance, her body shifted, and she felt her ankle fracture. She told the passenger to continue pulling the deflation line. The envelope deflated quickly and the basket laid down onto its side. There was no damage to the envelope or basket. The pilot suffered a broken ankle and leg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N787TC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N787TC), registered now, S/N 2516USA (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THUNDER & COLT AX8 105S2 - Registry model: [Thunder & Colt Airborne Amer AX8 105S2](https://openairdocs.org/model/thunder-colt-airborne-amer-ax8-105s2) (registry code 2301218) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 2516USA - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Albuquerque, NM - Destination: Albuquerque, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: serious; private; last flight review August 1, 2015; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 21.1 total, 16.3 in this make and model, 3.5 as pilot in command, 16.3 in the last 90 days, 14.1 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 11 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 20150802014399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150802014399A), Aug 2, 2015: Thunder & Colt Airborne Amer AX8 105S2, Albuquerque, NM, No damage. On otherwise uneventful flight, pilots foot was between basket and propane tank on landing, and jolt from ground contact broke pilots ankle. Landing was not a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91718. 543 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 516 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431342&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - New Mexico State Police Report (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431343&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=New%20Mexico%20State%20Police%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.