# NTSB CEN19CA128: Ultramagic S90, N901UM, La Mesa, TX, April 27, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 27, 2019, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: La Mesa, TX - Coordinates: 32.876388, -101.945831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8764&lon=-101.9458&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, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Stabdards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 99328 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19CA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99328/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99328 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19CA128 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to launch the balloon in known high wind conditions, and his failure to fully vent the balloon upon landing, which resulted in the balloon landing hard several times, tipping over, being pushed along uneven ground, and a serious passenger 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=9130011), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=9130011), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=9130011), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultramagic S-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=9130011), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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: [Ultramagic S-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=9130011), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Ultramagic S-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=9130011), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was making an approach to land in a field. About 10 ft above ground level (agl), he pulled the vent chute. The balloon struck the ground travelling about 15 mph and tipped over, and then the wind pushed it across furrows for 60 ft. A wind gust lifted the partially filled balloon to about 20 ft agl. The pilot pulled the vent chute again, and after the balloon traveled another 128 ft, the basket struck the ground hard. The wind pushed the balloon for another 30 ft, and the balloon struck ditches on both sides of a road. The balloon then travelled another 88 ft through the grass and then came to a stop. The balloon was not damaged; however, one passenger sustained serious injuries, and a second passenger sustained minor injuries. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, there were 18 balloons at the launch site, one of which belonged to another FAA inspector, who had unpacked his balloon but did not launch. No other pilots unpacked their balloons due to the high winds aloft. The accident pilot was the only one to take off. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot's accident report, he was making an approach to land in a furrowed farm field. About 10 feet above the ground, he pulled the vent chute. The balloon struck the ground travelling about 15 mph, tipped over, and was dragged by the wind across furrows for 60 feet. A gust of wind lifted the partially-filled balloon back into in the air to about 20 feet. He pulled the vent chute again and after travelling another 128 feet, the basket struck the ground hard. The wind dragged the balloon for another 30 feet, striking ditches on both sides of a road. It then travelled another 88 feet through grass. The balloon was not damaged; however, one passenger sustained serious injuries and a second passenger sustained minor injuries. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, there were 18 balloons at the launch site, including an FAA Inspector. The inspector had unpacked his balloon but did not launch. No other pilots unpacked their balloons due to the of the high winds aloft. (The accident pilot) was the only one to take off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N901UM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N901UM), registered now, S/N 90/151, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ULTRAMAGIC S90 - Registry model: [Ultramagic S-90](https://openairdocs.org/model/ultramagic-s-90) (registry code 9130011) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 90/151 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 51 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, March 27, 2019 - Departed: La Mesa, TX - Destination: La Mesa, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; last flight review April 15, 2018; restraint: none; flight hours: 684 total, 56 in this make and model, 645 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: LUV ## 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 20190427003529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190427003529A), Apr 27, 2019: Ultramagic S-90, Lamesa, TX, No damage. On April 27, 2019, at approximately 0745 local time, N901UM, a S-90 balloon was conducting a personal flight and landed in a field near Lamesa, Texas. Visual… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99328. 8.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 7.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472760&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Email from FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Map of Accident Area (item 3, .PDF, 473 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472762&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20of%20Accident%20Area-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.