# NTSB ERA11CA353: Head Balloons AX8-88, N8190V, Summerdale, AL, June 18, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 18, 2011, 09:20 local (13:20 UTC) - Place: Summerdale, AL - Coordinates: 30.483333, -88.300003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4833&lon=-88.3000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Birmingham Alabama FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80857 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA353 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80857/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80857 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA353 ## Probable cause The balloon pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude/clearance from a tree line during the landing approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX8-88, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=4280200), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Head Balloons AX8-88, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=4280200), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX8-88, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=4280200), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Head Balloons AX8-88, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=4280200), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the balloon reported that he elected to land in a large field after the wind speed increased during the flight. During the approach the pilot aligned the gondola to scrape along the top of a tree line adjacent to the intended landing field. He stated that, in ballooning, it is a common practice to scrape against the tops of trees on approach. The pilot allowed the balloon to descend too low during the maneuver and the balloon's "red line" became tangled in the trees which caused the envelope to deflate. The balloon then caught fire and the gondola settled to the ground as the pilot turned off the fuel. Both he and the passenger egressed the gondola safely before fire consumed the gondola. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the balloon elected to land in a large field after the wind speed increased during the flight. During the approach, the pilot aligned the gondola to scrape along the top of a tree line adjacent to the intended landing field. He stated that, in ballooning, it is a common practice to scrape against the tops of trees on approach. The pilot stated that he got too low during the maneuver and the balloon's "red line" became tangled in the trees which caused the envelope to deflate. The balloon then caught fire and the gondola settled to the ground as the pilot turned off the fuel. Both he and the passenger egressed the gondola safely before fire consumed the gondola. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8190V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8190V-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N 208 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HEAD BALLOONS INC AX8-88 - Registry model: [Head Balloons AX8-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/head-balloons-ax8-88) (registry code 4280200) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 208 - Airframe hours: 240 - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2011 - Departed: Foley, AL - Destination: Summerdale, AL - Airport: N/A ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; flight hours: 142 total, 142 in this make and model, 135 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KCQF, 12 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 20110618011429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110618011429A), Jun 18, 2011: Head Balloons Inc AX8-88, Summerdale, AL, Destroyed. The pilot stated that as he was approaching a field to land, a gust of wind caused his basket to get caught in the tops of some trees. As he became caught in… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80857. 486 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Fairhope(KCQF) Meteorological Observations (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350105&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fairhope(KCQF)%20Meteorological%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Overview of Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 269 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350079&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Overview%20of%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.