# NTSB DFW05CA223: Aerostar International RX-8, N6339G, Denton, TX, August 19, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 19, 2005, 08:40 local (13:40 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX - Coordinates: 32.200553, -97.197776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2006&lon=-97.1978&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 December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Forth Worth, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 62320 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05CA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62320/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA223 ## Probable cause The passenger's failure to follow landing instructions, which resulted in serious injury. A contributing factor was the high wind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - passenger briefing - performed, pilot in command - Miscellaneous/other, landing - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, passenger (cause) ## Analysis The 700-hour commercial pilot, with about 400-hours in balloons, was assigned two passengers for a non-revenue media flight. The pilot cautioned the passengers that the winds at landing could be eight to ten miles per hour (mph), and that the landing could be bumpy. He briefed both passengers on landing procedures, reminding them throughout the flight and landing approach to flex their knees, hold on, and stay in the basket. Upon landing the injured passenger immediately stated that she had broken her ankle. The pilot reported the landing impact was "moderate with no rebound." The second passenger reported the landing as "firm, but not violent." After landing the balloon dragged about 125 feet before coming to rest. The pilot reported the winds were from the south-southwest at 9 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2005, about 0840 central daylight time, an Aerostar International RX-8 double-burner hot air balloon, N6339G was not damaged during a hard landing near Denton, Texas. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured; however, the remaining passenger sustained a serious injury. The balloon was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from Highland Village Park near Highland Village, Texas, at approximately 0720. According to the 700-hour pilot, of which about 400-hours was in balloons, he was assigned two passengers for a non-revenue media flight in support of the Highland Village Balloon Festival. The pilot cautioned the passengers that the winds at landing could be eight to ten miles per hour (mph), and the landing could be "bumpy." With a "non-static landing" possible, the pilot briefed both passengers on the proper position for them to assume during the landing. After about an hour of flight, the pilot set up an "approach of 100 [feet per minute] (fpm) descent to a field at about ten mph." About 35 to 40 above ground level (agl) the pilot "hit" both burners to help "flare", and ten feet agl he "deployed the deflation port and reminded the passengers to flex their knees, hold on and stay in the basket." The pilot reported, "the impact was moderate with no rebound." The passenger immediately stated, "I think I broke my ankle." After touchdown the balloon dragged about 125 feet before coming to a rest. The non-injured commercial rated passenger reported that both passengers were advised that, because the winds were higher then "normal" the flight would be at the pilot's discretion. They were also informed, that the landing might me rough. Both passengers elected to fly and before landing the pilot warned them to bend their knees in order to cushioned the landing impact. The passenger reported the landing was, "firm but not bouncy." The pilot reported winds from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 84 degrees Fahrenheit and a barometric pressure setting of 30.01 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6339G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6339G), registered now, S/N RX8-3118, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerostar International RX-8 - Registry model: [Aerostar International RX 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8) (registry code 7487008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: RX8-3118 - Airframe hours: 140 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ronald L. Thompson - Registered owner: Ronald L. Thompson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2005, 13 hours before - Departed: Highland Villag, TX - Destination: Denton, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review March 1, 2005; flight hours: 700 total, 400 in this make and model, 640 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg ## 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 20050819022659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050819022659A), Aug 19, 2005: Arostr RX8, Denton, TX. (-23) The pilot briefed the passengers the day of the flight that due to the winds, a soft landing was not going to be possible. However, the injured 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.