# NTSB ERA09CA276: Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 60X, N877LX, Louisville, KY, April 26, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 26, 2009, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Louisville, KY - Coordinates: 38.198612, -85.736389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1986&lon=-85.7364&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73755 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA276 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73755/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73755 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA276 ## Probable cause The passenger's inadequate bracing during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 60X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=5190021), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 60X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=5190021), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the balloon located a landing area after completing a racing event. The pilot stated that he briefed the passenger prior to the landing to hold on to the basket handles. The pilot positioned himself in the front of the basket, with the passenger behind him. The landing was a normal, "stand-up landing." The passenger lost her grip from the handles and she consequently pitched forward as they bumped the ground and came to a stop. The passenger complained that her ankle hurt as she exited the basket. At first it was believed the passenger suffered a sprained ankle. A medical evaluation, 2 days later, discovered a fracture above the ankle. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the balloon located a landing area after completing a racing event. The pilot stated that he briefed the passenger prior to the landing, to hold on to the basket handles. The pilot positioned himself in the front of the basket, with the passenger behind him. The landing was a normal, "stand-up landing." The passenger lost her grip from the handles and she consequently pitched forward as they bumped the ground and came to a stop. The passenger complained that her ankle hurt as she exited the basket. At first it was believed the passenger suffered a sprained ankle. A medical evaluation, 2 days later, discovered a fracture above the ankle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N877LX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N877LX-2014-01-22), registration cancelled 2014-01-22, S/N 5417, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ARBC INC DBA LINDSTRAND 60X - Registry model: [Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 60X](https://openairdocs.org/model/arbc-inc-dba-lindstrand-60x) (registry code 5190021) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 5279 - Airframe hours: 32 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2009 - Departed: Louisville, KY - Destination: Louisville, KY - Airport: SDF, Louisville International Airpo ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review September 23, 2008; flight hours: 1,153 total, 52 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: SDF, 13 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 20090426005099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090426005099A), Apr 26, 2009: Lindst 60X, Louisville, KY, No damage. (-23) Pilot was participating in a balloon competition. After passing over the target, he proceeded to land. Pilot made a relatively steep approach due to the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73755. 363 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 260 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Interview (item 2, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Interview-Redacted.PDF - FAA record of conversations (item 3, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20record%20of%20conversations-Redacted.PDF 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.