# NTSB CHI86LA128: Cameron O-65, N298CB, Pickney, MI, April 28, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 27, 1986, 20:15 local (Apr 28, 1986, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Pickney, MI
- Coordinates: 42.45018, -83.939292 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4502&lon=-83.9393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13451
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86LA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13451/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86LA128

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE BALLOONEST HAD BRIEFED AND POSITIONED HIS TWO PAX FOR A ANTICIPATED HARD/DRAG LANDING IN A 9 KT WIND. HE STATED THE BALLOON TOUCHED AND BOUNCED THEN TOUCHED AND BOUNCED AGAIN BEFORE IT ENTERED THE DRAG SEQUENCE OF THE LANDING. THE FEMALE PAX SUFFERED A FRACTURE OF THE TIBIA DURING THE SECOND BOUNCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N298CB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N298CB-2012-10-19), registration cancelled 2012-10-19, S/N 475, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CAMERON O-65
- Registry model: [Cameron Balloons O-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/cameron-balloons-o-65) (registry code 1880106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 475
- Airframe hours: 245
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Herb W. Loner
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 4, 1985, 32 hours before
- Departed: DEXTER, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; flight hours: 172 total, 172 in this make and model, 159 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DET, 39 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 19860427017109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860427017109A), Apr 27, 1986: Camron O65, Pinckney, MI. A passenger was injured during a hard drag balloon landing. The pilot was thrown into the passenger.

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.