# NTSB CEN24LA302: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 260A, N26464, Colorado Springs, CO, August 2, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 2, 2024, 07:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Colorado Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.7191, -104.65941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7191&lon=-104.6594&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, 8 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194847 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA302 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194847/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194847 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA302 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing, 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; cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 260A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5190013), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 260A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=5190013), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 260A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=5190013), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 260A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5190013), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis Following an uneventful flight, the pilot descended the balloon at a steep angle into a vacant field. The pilot had briefed the passengers on the proper brace position before the flight and then again just before the landing. The basket touched down firmly, bounced several times and came to rest on its side. Following the landing a passenger experienced pain in his leg. It was later determined the passenger had a broken ankle. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26464](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26464), registered now, S/N 5560, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ARBC INC DBA LINDSTRAND 260A - Registry model: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 260A](https://openairdocs.org/model/arbc-inc-dba-lindstrand-260a) (registry code 5190013) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5560 - Year built: 2014 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Marketing Services Inc Of Pueblo, doing business as Adventures Out West - Registered owner: Marketing Services Inc Of Pueblo - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Departed: COS, Colorado Springs, CO - Airport: NA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 3, 2023; seat: single; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,300 total, 250 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.45 inHg - Observed at: KCOS, 6 nm away - METAR: KCOS 021254Z 03007KT 10SM SCT250 16/11 A3045 RMK AO2 SLP222 T01610111 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20240802011159I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240802011159I), Aug 2, 2024: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 260A, Colorado Spring, CO, No damage. Hot air balloon landed normally; as the passengers exited and stepped onto the ground, they injured their foot. The passenger later reported that their ankle… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194847. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17757637&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20N26464_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.