- Date
- September 21, 1996, 19:30 local (Sep 22, 1996, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Stilwell, KS
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 6 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2006WAvian Balloon Magnum IX
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report August 29, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960921046699A
- Case key
- 10400
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 pilot's not maintaining adequate clearance from a tree, and his allowing an abrupt touchdown. Factors relating to the accident were: dusk and the proximity of tree(s).
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
With darkness approaching and a lack of suitable landing sites, the pilot attempted to set the balloon down in a small clear area. During the approach, the balloon brushed the top of a tree. Beyond the tree, the pilot allowed an abrupt landing in a field. One passenger fell on another resulting in serious injuries being inflicted.
Factual narrative
On September 21, 1996, at 1930 central daylight time, an Avian Balloon Magnum IX, N2006W, registered to Balloon Safaris, Inc., of Tigard, Oregon, experienced a hard landing. One passenger sustained serious injuries. The other five passengers, and the pilot reported no injuries. The balloon received no damage. The accident occurred in a rural area near Stilwell, Kansas. The 14 CFR Part 91 sightseeing flight departed a field near Bucyrus, Kansas, at 1830 on a local flight in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file.
The pilot stated that he had attempted a landing prior to the landing where the passenger suffered serious injuries; however, he had abandoned the attempt when a land owner became irate. He said with darkness approaching and suitable landing sites becoming hard to find, he made an attempt to land in a small clearing. On the approach the basket "brushed through a tree top" and then touched down in what he said was abrupt. It was during the landing that the passenger received serious injuries.
The injured passenger stated that when the basket came into contact with the ground that another passenger fell on her and that is how she was injured.
Other passengers interviewed, stated that the landing was abrupt, but no one else reported any injuries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2006W
- Reported as
- Avian Balloon Magnum IX
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 193
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Balloon Safaris, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 31, 1995 · 85 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Bucyrus, 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
- 48
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Expired
- Flight hours
- 25,005 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KOJ, 15 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.