# NTSB CEN16LA183: Cameron Balloons US Z-150, N6952D, Edmond, OK, May 13, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2016, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Edmond, OK - Coordinates: 35.666667, -97.614997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6667&lon=-97.6150&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, 5 minor - Status: Completed, report June 20, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93174 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93174/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93174 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA183 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to control the balloon’s descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons US Z-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1880308), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Cameron Balloons US Z-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1880308), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the landing approach at the conclusion of the sightseeing flight, the commercial pilot of the balloon began a "quick" descent from an altitude of about 500 ft in order to land in a field that was about ¼ mile away. The pilot then activated the burners in order to slow the balloon's descent rate. About 50 ft above the ground, the pilot turned off the burners and pulled the quick deflation port at the top of the envelope. The basket impacted the ground, and the pilot and one passenger were ejected from the basket. The pilot continued to hold onto the quick deflation port line, and was dragged alongside the basket as the balloon subsequently became airborne. The balloon continued across the field until it contacted trees and came to rest. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2016, about 0800 central daylight time, a Cameron Balloon US Z-150, N6952D, collided with trees and the terrain during a landing in Edmond, Oklahoma. The pilot and four passengers received minor injuries. One passenger was seriously injured. The balloon received substantial damage to the envelope. The balloon was registered to a private individual and was operated by OKC Balloons Aloft as a sightseeing flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated about 0705.The pilot stated he checked the weather prior to the flight and the wind speed was forecast to be 5 to 8 knots. They departed on the flight and during the landing approach, at an attitude of about 500 ft, he started a "quick" descent to land in a field that was about ¼ mile away. He realized the descent rate was too fast so he used the burners to slow the descent. At 50 ft above the ground, the pilot stopped using the burners and pulled the quick deflation port. The basket impacted the ground, and the pilot and one passenger were ejected from the basket. The pilot continued to hold onto the quick deflation port line and was drug alongside the basket. The balloon became airborne and ascended to a height of 75 to 100 ft above the ground, with the pilot still holding onto the line. The balloon continued across the field until it came to rest after contacting trees. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions during the flight. The pilot's safety recommendation was, "Use of a pilot restraint harness so pilot is not ejected." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6952D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6952D), registered now, S/N 6690, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS US Z-150 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US Z-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-z-150) (registry code 1880308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6690 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 125.75 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 6, 2016 - Departed: Edmond, OK - Destination: Edmond, OK - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; commercial; last flight review March 16, 2016; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 546 total, 133 in this make and model, 516 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: PWA, 9 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 20160513004979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160513004979A), May 13, 2016: Cameron Balloons US Z-150, Edmond, OK, Substantial damage. Balloon was on steep descent rate when approaching to land. As aircraft hit the ground, pilot and one passenger were ejected. Pilot was holding emergency… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93174. 400 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 258 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453766&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Interviews (item 2, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451778&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Interviews-Master.PDF - Record of Conversations (item 3, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451779&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-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.