# NTSB CEN24LA209: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A, N8005H, Hebron, IN, June 2, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 2, 2024, 18:54 local (23:54 UTC) - Place: Hebron, IN - Coordinates: 41.31865, -87.20031 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3186&lon=-87.2003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194371 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194371/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194371 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA209 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines while landing in a field. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=5190006), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=5190006), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=5190006), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=5190006), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he launched his balloon from a local park and about 45 to 50 minutes after launch, he briefed his passengers for landing and began a descent. The pilot opted to forgo the initial landing area, due to obstacles, for a new landing area about 300 yards to the southwest. The new landing area required the pilot to cross a road with powerlines that ran parallel to it. The pilot began the descent and believed he had sufficient altitude to clear the powerlines. However, the descent path took the balloon into the vicinity of the powerlines, so the pilot applied full burner and attempted to ascend. The balloon continued to descend, and the pilot told his passengers to “get down.” The basket impacted the powerlines which resulted in electrical arcing. The pilot applied more heat and the balloon broke free from the powerlines. The balloon drifted about 2 miles southwest and came to rest in a field. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the two passengers sustained serious injuries. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the basket and the flying wires. The pilot believed that the balloon was caught in a downdraft caused by thermal activity near the ground. He also stated that there was no direct evidence of mechanical failure. A post accident inspection of the balloon after the accident did not find anything abnormal with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8005H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8005H), registered now, S/N 5802, built 2024 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ARBC INC DBA LINDSTRAND 90A (5802) - Registry model: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A](https://openairdocs.org/model/arbc-inc-dba-lindstrand-90a) (registry code 5190006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5802 - Year built: 2024 - Airframe hours: 2.8 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Region Ballooning LLC - Registered owner: A R B C Inc DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, April 15, 2024 - Departed: Winfield, IN - Destination: Lowell, IN - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight instructor, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 7, 2023; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 11,000 total, 2.5 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: KVPZ, 12 nm away - METAR: KVPZ 022356Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 21/13 A2999 RMK AO2 ## 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 20240602014419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240602014419A), Jun 2, 2024: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 90A, Hebron, IN, Substantial damage. The pilot in command (PIC) departed on a one-hour leisure flight from stoney run county park near winfield, IN. This was the second flight on a new envelope… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194371. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17424044&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120-Sizemore_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17424505&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20-%20Decscription%20of%20Event-Rel.pdf - FAA statement - email (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17446065&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RE_%20Balloon%20N8005H_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17424751&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photographs-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.