# NTSB CHI03LA208: Cameron Balloons O-77, N8085G, Battle Creek, MI, July 4, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 2003, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Battle Creek, MI
- Coordinates: 42.234722, -85.55194
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2347&lon=-85.5519&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA-Grand Rapids FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57473
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA208
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57473/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA208

## Probable cause

The pilot's excessive descent rate.  Factors to the accident were the trees lining the landing area.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing
  - descent - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A passenger aboard a personal balloon flight was seriously injured during a hard landing on a hay field.  The pilot described the field as having trees at its west and east ends.  The pilot reported that as he cleared the western row of trees the balloon's rate of descent was too steep and it landed hard. Recorded winds, 10 miles southwest of the accident site, were from the southwest at 10 knots.

## Factual narrative

On July 4, 2003, at 0800 eastern daylight time, a Cameron Balloons O-77, N8085G, encountered a hard landing approximately 10 miles northeast of Battle Creek (BTL), Michigan.  The pilot was not injured, but the passenger was seriously injured.  The balloon was not damaged.  The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed a field near BTL at 0630.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  No flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported attending a balloon festival the morning of the accident.  The pilot reported that while attempting to land, he felt the rate of descent was more than normal and the approach was too steep. The balloon landed hard, and the passenger sustained serious back injuries.

At 0753, the weather at BTL was reported as: wind 210 degrees at 9 knots.

The pilot reported a total flight time of 250 hours in the make and model of the accident balloon, of which 200 hours were as pilot in command.

The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8085G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8085G), registered now, S/N 6248, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cameron Balloons O-77
- Registry model: [Cameron Balloons US O-77](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-us-o-77) (registry code 1880207) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 6248
- Airframe hours: 113
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Over the Rainbow, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 2003, 10 hours before
- Departed: BTL, Battle Creek, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; last flight review July 21, 2001; flight hours: 250 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: BTL, 10 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 20030704013849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030704013849A), Jul 4, 2003: Camron O77, Battle Creek, MI. (-23) After landing both pilot and crewmember exited balloon, after walking a short distance, the crewmember complained of back pain and was taken to the…

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.

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