# NTSB CEN21LA164: Cameron Balloons Z-90, N4505B, Celina, TX, March 20, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 20, 2021, 09:25 local (14:25 UTC) - Place: Celina, TX - Coordinates: 33.3186, -96.7781 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3186&lon=-96.7781&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO North Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 102804 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102804/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102804 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA164 ## Probable cause The malfunction of the balloon’s envelope venting system during landing in high wind, which resulted in the balloon being dragged along the ground, substantially damaging the envelope. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md?model=1880300), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=1880300), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cameron Balloons Z-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1880300), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that while setting up to land in a field following a 1.3 hour flight to reestablish his solo currency, he noted on final approach that the venting system, used to release air from the envelope for descents, landings, and deflation, had malfunctioned. The pilot attempted to correct the problem while continuing to land. Immediately on landing, the balloon began to spinnaker and drag along the ground. The balloon finally came to a stop beneath powerlines adjacent to a road. The balloon sustained substantial damage to several lower panels of the envelope between the skirt and the equator. The pilot reported that not all the Velcro tabs to the parachute top of the venting system may have properly released prior to launch, which he believed was responsible for the outcome he experienced. The pilot also reported the wind was higher at the time of the accident than it was at the time of the launch, which was 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4505B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4505B), registered now, S/N 6317, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CAMERON BALLOONS Z-90 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cameron Balloons Z-90](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-z-90) (registry code 1880300) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 6317 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 349 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ret Richard V - Registered owner: Ret Richard V - Airworthiness certificate: None - Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 2021, 1 hours before - Departed: TKI, Mckinney, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 11, 2020; seat: single; restraint: none; flight hours: 939 total, 939 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: KTKI, 12 nm away - METAR: KTKI 201353Z 12005KT 10SM CLR 09/05 A3036 RMK AO2 SLP289 T00890050 ## 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 20210320003379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210320003379A), Mar 20, 2021: Cameron Balloons Z-90, Celina, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft took off from the parking lot of [privacy data omitted] in mckinney. After approximately 45 minutes of flight, the pilot attempted to dump lift, and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102804. 2.1 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN21LA164 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12468878&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN21LA164_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN21LA164 (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 227 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12469400&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN21LA164-Rel.pdf - Pilot letter to NTSB (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 434 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12473250&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Letter%20to%20NTSB_Redacted-Rel.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.