- Date
- April 16, 1994, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- Augusta, KS
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N6408FAerostar RX-7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940416014299A
- Case key
- 9506
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The improper touchdown performed by the balloon pilot.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the pilot's statement, after practicing three touch and go landings, she picked up a passenger for the continuation of the flight. The pilot instructed the passenger to brace himself as she attempted to do another touch and go landing. After venting the balloon to descend, the pilot did a short burn and the balloon bounced hard while landing.
Factual narrative
On April 16, 1994, approximately 0945 central daylight time, an Aerostar International RX-7 balloon, N6408F, touched down abruptly while practicing landings in a farm field near Augusta, Kansas. The pilot reported no injuries, the passenger received serious injuries. The balloon was not damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Derby, Kansas, exact time unknown.
According to the pilot's statement, after practicing three solo touch and go landings, she picked up a passenger for the continuation of the flight. The pilot completed one successful touch and go landing with the passenger aboard, then chose a landing spot two miles downwind. She stated as they neared the selected landing site, she realized it was not very accessible for the chase crew. She radioed instructions to the chase crew for an alternate landing site, and prepared to perform another touch and go landing. The pilot instructed the passenger to brace himself in preparation for the touch and go landing. After venting the balloon to descend, the pilot did a short burn and the balloon bounced while landing. The passenger's ankle was fractured.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6408F
- Reported as
- Aerostar RX-7
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- RX7-3035
- Airframe hours
- 54
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Deal, Karen K.
- Registered owner
- Deal, Karen K.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 4, 1993 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- NON · Belle Plaine, KS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Unknown
- Flight hours
- 49 total · 47 in this make and model · 34 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ICT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.