# NTSB CEN15LA314: Arbc 69X, N76627, Longview, TX, July 22, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 22, 2015, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Longview, TX
- Coordinates: 32.691112, -94.705558 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6911&lon=-94.7056&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
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91617
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA314
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91617/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91617
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA314

## Probable cause

The balloon’s hard landing due to a high surface wind and downdraft, which resulted in the pilot sustaining a serious leg injury.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 69X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=5190022), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md)
- [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 69X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=5190022), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 69X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=5190022), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 69X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=5190022), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md)
- [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 69X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=5190022), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md)
- [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 69X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=5190022), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 69X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=5190022), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 69X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5190022), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, as the balloon descended, the wind speed increased. He aborted the first landing to avoid power lines and chose to land in an adjacent field. During the landing, the balloon encountered a downdraft after the pilot turned off the burners and pulled the parachute top to release hot air. The balloon impacted the ground hard, dragged the basket a short distance, and then stopped. The balloon was not damaged, but the pilot's left hip and ankle were broken during the hard landing. An examination of the balloon and its systems revealed no anomalies.

## Factual narrative

On July 22, 2015, about 00830 central daylight time, an ARBC Inc. 69X balloon, N76627, tipped over while landing near Longview, Texas. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The balloon was not damaged. The balloon was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a competition flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight departed about 0710. The pilot reported that after completing all three competition tasks he started to look for a place to land. As he descended the wind speed increased and the first few fields were too small to land in with windy conditions. The pilot aborted the first landing to avoid powerlines and elected to land in an adjacent field. The pilot reported that he encountered a downdraft after turning off his burners and pulling the parachute top to release hot air. He stated that the impact with the ground was hard and the balloon tipped over and stopped after dragging the basket a short distance. The balloon was not damaged but the pilot had serious injuries to his left leg during the hard landing. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the balloon that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N76627](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N76627), registered now, S/N 5500, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARBC INC 69X
- Registry model: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 69X](https://openairdocs.org/model/arbc-inc-dba-lindstrand-69x) (registry code 5190022) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 5500
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 72
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Air race/show, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: May 4, 2015
- Departed: Kilgore, TX
- Destination: Longview, TX
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; commercial; last flight review May 3, 2015; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,306 total, 72 in this make and model, 1,270 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 14.1 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KGGG

## 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 20150722010799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150722010799A), Jul 22, 2015: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 69X, Longview, TX, No damage. For the existing wind conditions, the aircraft made a normal approach and firm landing. The pilot felt some discomfort after landing and was taken to the local…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91617. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433424&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.